ajoneen

So what is goalwatch?

Friday April 3rd aJoneen..........................+2 75 pounds LOST! Bandana....................... 0 92 lbs lost BrandNewLisa............0 80pounds LOST forever!!! evelas5000...................-1 50 pounds Lost Desdemona...................0 Fenton...........................0 100 POUNDS LOST !! HarleyGirl....................0 85 pounds LOST! Hopeinapril................. 0 50 pounds lost! Kpodski..........................0 Lynnt1215.....................0 NurseNiki......................0 Nycm00........................0 Potatie............................0 120 POUNDS LOST!! Scrappy_Friend..........0 160 POUNDS LOST!!!! SpecialK.........................0 97 lbs and closing in on 100! Sugarbean....................-1 112 POUNDS LOST !!! Sharona.........................0 stellabella......................0 75 POUNDS LOST! Tess415..........................0 Thin2bme....................-2.2 100 POUNDS LOST !! WestCoastMom............0 Wishin4...........................0 73 pounds gone!! Not sure why but gained 2. Very frustrated. :confused:

I think Fenton is focusing on finishing his book. I'm sure he'll be back soon.

HI all. Im hearing alot of self bashing going on. Believe me I'm just as hard on myself. I think there is something happening that needs to be looked into. It is a vicious cycle. Scale stops moving, "I must be a failure". Didn't exercise for a few days "I must be a failure". Shouldn't have eaten that cookie "I'm a failure". Im not at goal "I failed" I'm a failure so I might as well; -eat all the other cookies - just lay in bed - sit and watch another mind numbing TV show -look back and beat myself up for all my short comings. Yep the motivation isn't as strong as when we first started this journey. Im not sure I will ever be that motivated again. But to say I'm a failure is just not correct. These last few weeks I've been trying to find my MoJo again. When I have a particularity good day I try to see what made it so good. Why did I bounce out of bed, work so hard with my trainer, take the dog for a walk and go to yoga class? Plus I made good food choices. So what gives? Is there a way to bottle this and reproduce it on the days Im just not getting it in gear? Because when Im at that place where I don't want to move my body or the peanut butter is looking really good willpower is out the door. It is really easy to say F it I'm just not meant to lose another 10lbs (or 1lb). So Im left to try to acknowledge what works. Really mindfully acknowledge that something is going right. Maybe even write myself notes of encouragement to the sorry self I might be the next day. Focus on the good. We all know what we are bad at. What is hard. Directing your energy to trying to figure out a negative will just keep you in that negative place. So why not find what you're good at and build on that. Do you work out more consistently with another person? Well make it your business to get a buddy or join a group. Do you need to make a commitment to something? Do a charity walk where they have training help. Like the Avon 3 Day Walk. Does telling your story about the band and your decision to get it remind you why you did this in the first place? Than offer to talk at your Drs support group or informational meeting. Be a mentor here on LBT. Do you do well with a list or goals? Than write a few and support them with an action plan of how you will succeed. Do you struggle with food choices? Start using The Daily Plate/Calorie King or whatever. Set yourself up with a menu for the next day or the whole week. Make a list before you go shopping, and stick to it. You get the idea. Find what works. Baby steps. Stop beating yourself up about what you haven't done. Be kind to yourself. -Since I choose not to have another cookie I feel empowered. -That walk yesterday really energized me, how can I fit in another one tomorrow? -I have come so far on my journey and Im still committed to a more healthy lifestyle. We all slip up. Sometimes for a day sometimes for a few weeks. Main thing is you have it within yourself to make the change. For Gods sake at some point you were motivated enough to get the band. Pat yourself on the back and shout "WooHoo!" Move forward. Tomorrow is a new day. I think you're doing a great job!!

Protein shakes/drinks are good. Isopure makes a Protein Drink with 40g protein. They make a shot too (bullets), but Im not sure of the protein amount. They do have a bit of after-taste but are well worth it for the amount of protein. unjury also makes an unflavored Protein powder you can put into anything. (Well anything under 130 degrees.) I loved that stuff in the early days. Glad to hear you are feeling so good so soon.

aJoneen........................+4 75 pounds LOST! Bandana....................... 0 92 lbs lost BrandNewLisa............0 80pounds LOST forever!!! evelas5000...................0 50 pounds Lost Desdemona...................0 Fenton...........................0 100 POUNDS LOST !! HarleyGirl..................-1 85 pounds LOST! Hopeinapril................. -1 50 pounds lost! Kpodski........................- 4 Lynnt1215.................0 NurseNiki...................0 Nycm00.......................0 Potatie..........................-4 120 POUNDS LOST!! Scrappy_Friend......0 150 POUNDS LOST!!!! SpecialK.....................-5 97 lbs and closing in on 100! Sugarbean..................-2 112 POUNDS LOST !!! Sharona.......................0 stellabella...................-1.6 75 POUNDS LOST! Tess415......................0 Thin2bme................. 0 100 POUNDS LOST !! WestCoastMom........0 Wishin4......................0 73 pounds gone!! Not sure what the &*^$$#*^(**()& happened but I gained 4 freakin pounds. And Im logging my food and getting extra exercise. JUST NOT FAIR!!!!!

Glad to see you're back Blogging and doing so GREAT! Amanda

It is so great to see you heading in such a positive direction. Your numbers really show the progress you've made. Cheers to you!! Amanda

Set calorie goals and stick to them. Log your food. Be accountable. Yep not what you wanted to hear. I was in the same boat. Lost alot in the first months. Stalled out the last 5 months. I was bitching and moaning about how this band wasn't working. I could eat anything I wanted. No BPs. No getting stuck. Nothing to stop the inward flow of food. I was pissed I now have scars. Then a switch in my brain flipped on. I started to log my food intake. I wake up each morning saying "Ok what am I going to do to make this work?" Im on track again and losing 2-3 lbs a week. I say I found my MoJo. If what you are doing is not working you have to do something different. The band for me is great at keeping me not hungry between meals. Im sure there is a support group you could go to. Find a mentor on this site. Whatever you do don't give up. Amanda

I am so sorry you had this happen to you. You have had some wonderful success with your band so far. The operation to replace it will happen soon and I think that will be a good time to let go of the past hurts and refocus on yourself. Being a counselor you know better then most what it will take to heal not only from the attack but the lack of trust with your co-workers/employers. (file suit against the bastards!!) Take the time you need to heal. Come back and let us know how you are doing. I hope you have an equally wonderful family who can care for you now. Best wishes on a speedy recovery, Amanda

For my own 2cents. Go find yourself a protein shake you like. There are TONS of them out there. After trying quite a few I found Unjury. It is only sold on line. Comes in Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, chicken soup and unflavored. I liked the Choco,Van, & unflavored (which I added to soups, juices, coffee, pudding,yogurt- just about anything). This journey will take you through many changes. One will be your relationship with food. Try to remember to enjoy your food not punish yourself with a meal. Food will become less important. Really. It's weird how that happens, but it does. You will learn to eat mindfully. I know you just asked if the hunger pains will stop, I got a little carried away. Good luck with your journey, Amanda

Now for what you don't want to hear, eat less and exercise more. Identify the most high calorie thing you put in your mouth. Eliminate it or cut back by half. If you are doing cardio 3 days bump it to four or start interval training to boost the intensity. You've lost a great amount. So you obviously know what you're doing. Now it is just time to re-energize the process. Ps- have you heard about the 5-day pouch test? Google it and have a look. Good Luck on your journey, Amanda

Good for you finding something you enjoy doing!! That will really help keep you motivated.

3/20 aJoneen........................-3 75 pounds LOST! Bandana....................... 0 95 lbs lost BrandNewLisa............0 80pounds LOST forever!!! evelas5000..................-3 50 pounds Lost Desdemona...................0 Fenton...........................0 100 POUNDS LOST !! HarleyGirl..................0 85 pounds LOST! Hopeinapril................. - 3.8 50 pounds lost! Kpodski........................0 Lynnt1215................. 0 NurseNiki...................0 Nycm00.......................0 Potatie.........................-3 100 POUNDS LOST!! Scrappy_Friend....-5 150 POUNDS LOST!!!! SpecialK...................0 Sugarbean..................-2 110 POUNDS LOST !! Sharona......................-4 stellabella...............0 HALFWAY TO GOAL! Tess415......................0 Thin2bme............... 0 100 POUNDS LOST !! WestCoastMom........0 Wishin4......................0 73 pounds gone!! I just saw a number on the scale I haven't seen in about 12 years!!! 3 more pounds and Im down to my wedding weight.

I woke up this morning wondering why, again I lay there like a slug. My mind trying to figure out the motivation question and wasting time. This is a pool morning. I LOVE swimming. Where is my MoJo? Then I read my Horoscope today: Why worry about what is holding you back from reaching your goals when there seems to be no way to determine what exactly it is? You're fretting and stressing over a mystery that might never be solved -- and it's a huge waste of your precious energy. So today, just get moving forward and focus more on doing things rather than on all the subliminal stuff that you'll never be able to pin down. You just need to get stuff done. Happily I did get to the pool and I do feel invigorated. I just have to stop thinking so much and just get stuff done.

I woke up this morning wondering why, again I lay there like a slug. My mind trying to figure out the motivation question and wasting time. This is a pool morning. I LOVE swimming. Where is my MoJo? Then I read my Horoscope today: Why worry about what is holding you back from reaching your goals when there seems to be no way to determine what exactly it is? You're fretting and stressing over a mystery that might never be solved -- and it's a huge waste of your precious energy. So today, just get moving forward and focus more on doing things rather than on all the subliminal stuff that you'll never be able to pin down. You just need to get stuff done. Happily I did get to the pool and I do feel invigorated. I just have to stop thinking so much and just get stuff done.

Welcome Andrew. Nice car. Ya and nice progress pictures too. I don't have veins sticking out, but I do love seeing the muscle definition.

I think if you find someone who says they didn't- they are lying.

Kathy- Love the pictures!!! What a change.

A pat on the back to all you St. Patty's Day Banders!! I think Jonathan is on the slippery slope. He tends to stay away when he is doing poorly. I hope he finds his second (fifth?) wind and pops back in soon. Interesting NSV for me. I was looking though some old pictures (circa 2004) and was commenting aloud about how good I looked them. My husband asked what I weighted back in then. I said about 217. He then asked how much I weighted today. 208 I said. Then it hit me. With the exception of a few more wrinkles, I look that good- now. One of the reasons I knew I needed to do something about my weight was because I saw a picture of myself (at 284) and was disgusted. Sometimes when I look in the mirror I don't see what is really there. It works both ways.

Im very interested in this. I know I need to have the talk with my Dr. These pellets look like a good choice. I would like to hear more about how you choose them and how it is working for you. Care to share?

Gloves might help if you really have soft hands. Try reducing the weight a bit and go slow. You will have a good workout if you make the movement last longer. Good form is very important. Some movements need a locked wrist, others need to flex. Do you have a trainer? Ask him. If not it would be a good idea to have at least one session to learn the proper form for each machine or piece of equipment. Good luck. Just don't stop.

You are not alone. You are probably correct about the food choices. Why not start a food log? At lease you will know if that is the trouble spot. Plus your Dr will want to know what you have been eating- so might as well log it. Also I have been having a mug of hot water/tea first thing in the morning. Seems to help with the tightness. That is because you were in the honeymoon phase. Now is real life. Pick one thing to focus on each week(or month). Baby steps. Put some energy back into this battle. Hope some of this helps. Keep your chin up.