nycm00

Amanda...I know what you mean about other people sometimes throwing you off in the whole head thing that goes with weight loss. They just don't get it. They say the stupidest thing sometimes and it is in their way supposed to help, but it ends up hurting. We may even stumble and allow ourselves to reconsider the positives we have been experiencing. I have a friend whose mother is a nurse who constantly does this to me. Last time I saw her she told me all these failure stories and the one succes in my opinion was a failure in her opinion. I think losing a hundred pounds is a success and the person was happy with it. She feels getting down to 230 pounds is not low enough and why stop there....so a failure. Made me wonder what she will think of me when I reach the point where I would like to stop losing. People just don't know how to be supportive sometimes. I hope your trainer learned a lesson from yesterday's session and will be able to support you the way you need to be supported from here on out. You are doing and AWESOME job withthe band. I am in awe of your achievement! Christine

Anyone else here finally allowing themselves to believe this may actually work? I guess the past 3 months I have sort of had the same mentality of my preivious diet and gimmic years. I just kept waiting to fail. It's really only in the past couple of weeks that I find myself believing this really is going to be it for me. The weight will be off and stay off. It's so nice to allow myself the unbelievable decadence of enjoying losing weight. I would love a wii fit. I'm saving my pennies and hopefuly within the next month I'll be able to finagle one into my budget. Those of you who have it, do you use it? Do you break a sweat using it? It looks so cool. I've been told that when at proper restriction you should not be able to eat a whole burger or sandwich including the bread. I am now at the point where I eat the inside but not the bread. I have good restiction. Thanks for all the congrats on my surpassing the 250 mark....Onederland, here I come!! Christine

Yay I broke the 250 mark!!! I have not been here in years....and years. I cancelled my fill for today. I think my restriction is good for now. Have a great day! Christine

BrandNewLisa...it's awesome that you have made it down to the 2's. I know once I cross over the 250 point on the scale I will feel victorious. I can't even imagine what it will feel like to hit Onederland! You are doing awesome keep it up! Christine

Congratulations on making it to onederland Lynn!!!! Christine

I'm back for my trip to Dubai...what an amazing city, but nothing like what I was expecting. It was wonderful to see my friends. My band got much tighter from the long flights and now my restriction level is very high. I am scheduled for a fill on Thurday and will see how I feel today and tomorrow before deciding if I should reschedule. Has anyone else noticed a tightening when traveling by plane? My MD told me that people report changes in restiction with air travel, stress, (for women) chnage in cycle. I did not notice it so much when I took a 6 hour flight before, but it was really noticable on this trip. On my friend's scale, I was down to 248!!! My home scale says 250, still a movement in the right direction and in a few days I will be below 250!!! Happy dance for me!! Christine

Annie, since you are on liquids now because of the PB episodes. Try some of the shake alternatives like adding Peanut Butter or somefresh fruit to your Protein shakes to switch it up a bit. I HATE the head stuff. The physical hunger can be fed in a healthy way andeasily satisfied, but the head stuff I try to treat with excersize or company. If it's not possible to go out for a walk, or meet a friend I polish my nails...keeps me busy for a bit and then while waiting for the polish to set, you don't want to smudge the polish, so you won't eat much. Hope this phase passes. Christine

COngrats on the loss....Doesn't it feel great to be back on track? Joining the gym is a great step....going is even better! How is it going? Do you have a trainer? Christine

Scrappy ...you have lost almost a hundred pounds from your highest weight! That must feel amazing!!! You will make your goal of onederland before your birthday! Christine

13 pound in 3 weeks sounds realistic for you! You can do this and will probalby surpass it. You amaze me. Christine

Amamda...WoW! 2 triathalons this summer! I will be cheering you on. What amazing motivation. Christine

I too am of the philosophy that Forbidden Foods is a recipe for disaster. I have to allow myself a sweet indulgence here and there and compensate with extra excersize or lower calorie options throughout the day. When I am totally restricted it backfires and results in a binge....no good. Harley, you can get back on track. You want this so badly, you paid so much for it. Work with your band...don't fight against it or sabbotage yourself. I am leaving for Dubai today. I am going to visit friends I have not seen in almost 11 years. I am soooo excited to be going. It's only for a few days, but it's going to be wonderful. I'll be back on Monday. Hopefully by then I'll be below 250...dang scale won't budge....but at least it's not going up! Christine

Hope, good luck with your medical stuff. I'll be thinking of you. Kerri, it was so cool to see you kayaking...that is one of my goals...to be able to get in one without the fear of getting stuck! Fenton....it would be so cool to ride on a board built for you and with graphics designed by a friend. I can't wait to see pics of you on your board. Lynn....I join the other in the chant for you to cross over to onederland....I am so close to 250 I can almost feel it...can't wait to be there. Christine

I'm down 20 lbs since surgery on 5/24. Have another fill scheduled for 6/26. Christine

Charity, just think how much you have already lost and this time it's gone forever! The numbers will keep going down. I know it's frustrating that it's not a pound a day loss instead of a pound a week. I have lost 20 lbs since surgery....17 in the pre-op time. Let's see, that's 17lbs in about a month before surgery and 20 lbs in the 2.5 months since surgery. I just keep telling myself that since I'm doing it slowly, I have no hanging skin, and the earlier pounds are the easiest to lose. You will get better restriction and your band will work for you. In the mean time, keep up the great work you are doing! Chrsitine

Fenton, Congratulations! Amanda I love the flowers, sash and tiara. You guys are too funny. Christine

Tess! What a transformation. You look fabulous! Christine

I too am experiencing hair loss. I too have PCOS and am thin on top to begin with. It's been getting worse the past couple of weeks. Thankfully my hair is curly, so it's a bit easier to hide. I have variable restriction through my day and there are some daysI am really tight and others where I feel almost nothing. This week is a good week....last week, not so good. I have 6cc in a 10cc band. I have been skipping Breakfast and have lunch around noon. I do try to have an Isopure clear drink in the AM to increase my Protein intake. This morning I have a chocolate medifast blended with 1tsp of Peanut Butter and some ice. It was nice, and probably about the same calorically as my ISOPURE. Christine

Annie, you look amazing! Christine

Harley, it was so easy to hide behind all that fat and not do the many things I have always wanted to try. Nothing can stop us now. With the help of our bands we are in control. I can't wait to lose a hundred pounds and start taking trapeeze lessons....my reward for taking off 100 pounds. Christine

Thanks Fenton and Amanda....I think a lot of it had to do with the people that were there. They are thin and athletic, but I KNEW they would never make fun of the fat chick trying to ride the pipe. In fact when they tried it themselves (about an hour after my attempts), they had an easier time getting on, but could not stay on for even the few steps I got out of it....that just made it all the better. Thanks for being a part of my cheering section! Christine

Lisa....CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are doing really, really well. I hope to get under 250 by next week. I have not been there for years! Christine

Amanda...no thunder here. I am on the south shore of Long Island. Where are you? I hope the heat wave breaks soon. Christine

I just have to brag about what I did today.... I was at a neighbor's house with the kids. There were a total of 3 families there. All the adults besides myself are slim sporty folks. Well, my friend C drags out the huge PVC pipe about a 3 foot diameter and about 6 feet long. She uses it to log roll across her lawn....yes, you read correctly she gets up on the thing....and as she walks....it rolls. I wanted to try it so badly.... I really wanted to get myself some alone time with that big old pipe....I slowly approach it while the other adults are tossing around a ball. I push my body against it...trying to see if it will smash under my weight if I actually find a way to get on top. I find it seems pretty strong. I walk away. About an hour later I decide to go for it. I approach the pipe. I try to climb on...it rolls away, try again...same result, by now everyone has noticed me courting the big pipe. My friend C attempts to hold it for me. She's half my size...it really is laughable. I attempt to climb on, it rolls away....I'm getting desperate and having the best time. I have my 7 yr old and my 4 yr old come by to also hold onto this monster pipe and I climb right up. I feel like I am on top of the world! I take two steps and fall backwards off the dang thing and even roll around on the grass laughing for a while. Now everyone is really enjoing this....no one is laughing AT me or judging me. I climb up one more time and I roll that pipe a couple of steps before it gets away from me....I did it! I did it! I rolled that awesome pipe! I did something I would never have even considered doing in front of people 37 pounds ago. I am so proud of myself! Christine

Kpod...you should contact the other Mainer...just ask how she was able to get so many fills so soon. Don't put her on the defensive, just find out what her conversations with the office were like. Good luck to you. Christine