Mia31

Hi Janet I have great news - I lost another 2.4 this week! I have been reading the posts, but haven't had much to say since you sorted me out over the last few weeks! :thumbup: Your pics from what you wore for the commercial are fab - you look so willowy and graceful You look like a todal fox actually!!!:crying: Its horrible and cold here, and its been mental at work. I haven't eated brilliantly (5 portions of fruit and veg went out of the window for a couple of days) or done any exercise apart from gardening and cleaning - but I am being careful with food, and have a much greater sense of what is good for me to eat and what is not ie. that I cannot simply tuck into chocolate and expect to lose weight! My boss said the other day to change something which you've done for a long time and want it to be different, you have to do things differently to achieve that - which sounds RIDICULOUSLY obvious - bt actually to me, makes complete sense. I thought by having the band, and continuing to eat poorly - I would be able to lose weight - and sometimes I did, and most times I didn't. The really important thing for me is trying to remember that this is permanent - I'm not going to stop eaating this way or trying to be healthy. I think if I can crack that thought process - I will really be there. I am finding that eating different calories everyday rather than the same amount is really helping. There isn't a massive difference between each day, probably a hundred or so, but I think it must be working as 2.4 with no exercise is unheard of! I don't think that carbs are a problem for me either. I have tried eating high Protein low carb, and I find my loss slows down, so I am really doing a low fat diet, and trying to get between 50-60g protein a day to keep those amino acids high. I am hols with my parents next week - so this week has to be a good one! Then I would like to maintain over the holiday and come back and get straight on the wagon. I will do my best not to get off it, as holidays are deceptive - you go on one, come back and suddenly think you're still on one for another 2 weeks! Anyway = got to get off my bum and go to work - BOO! Speak soon, Mx ps This is such a positive group - well done all of you!

Hello Girls! All I can say is......YAY!!!!:thumbup::thumbdown::crying::cursing::drool: I did it! I lost 1.1 yesterday to take me up to 10lbs for the whole month. That's my best lost ever, even better than when the band was first put in I think. I am buzzing!! I am still struggling with the exercise this week again (work always seems to get in the way of having fun!) but I am going to stick religiously to 1200 cals and see how far that gets me. I would like to zigzag, but am reading into it, as I am a routine person, and I need to know how much I am having on what day. A friend sent me this link if you are interested too Calorie Calculator - Daily Caloric Needs I am so pleased. I don't feel deprived and better than that - I just took off my work trouserx (don't panic - I'm at home now!) without undoing the fly or buttons!! NSV city!! The discussion here is so useful. You take so much for granted, but its only those who have tried and had success who really know ie Our Janet! Mx

Janet - thanks so much for taking all this time to explain this to me. As far as I can see, for the best possible results, the max calories has to be 1200 and that is without exercise. For better results, zigzagging will also help. I suppose the way to look at it is that the exercise is for your health, and the calories for your weight loss. You've given me the best example of the science of losing weight that I've seen for a long time. I really understand for the first time how it works -so now to put it in practice. The thing is, when you've been a fat chick for a long time, and you've done quite a bit about dieting, its easy to get all that knowledge mixed up and not be able to see the wood for the trees! Re the carbs - I am not having as many as you may think, as I don't eat any starches with my evening meal, so the 2 portions I get are in the morning and lunch. I don't think I would be able to eat a sandwich in the morning, as it would probably get stuck, and also I am steering clear of bread, as that has been a really good habit to break, and the band has really helped with that. Its also quite clear I need to calm down and take each day at a time. I will try to not weigh everyday, I may start doing it every other day, just to break the cycle. I was really miserable yesterday because it went up, and I don't think there's any need to live on a knife edge like that! I am just making it hard for myself. Having said ALL that - it was better news this morning, but won't record until my official weigh in on Tues! I know - I'm such a loser!! You guys are all fantastic! I've had more support here on this site than anywhere else - you're the BEST! Mx

CongratsJoannMarie - you will do really well as you have such a positive attitude. Well done Becky on losing 7.5 inches - that's so much! Janet - my calorie intake for the day should be 1400, if I do a minimum of 200 exercise - so it is really 1200 - which is roughly what you say. I just recalculated my foods, and without snacks, and by having eggs and a banana for breakfast, tuna and onion with no crackers and grapes for lunch, and then one pot wonder for dinner I am at 873 cal. I have included the fruit in the main meals instead of snacks, as I think its really important to have good nutrition which should mean 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. Re eggs - do you eat the whites or all of it, and what do you do with them? I struggle with eggs in the morning, but maybe I am preparing them wrong. Cereal, milk and banana goes down slowly but nicely, and I feel full after. I also need to eat whatever I have at work, as I have to be in early in the mornings, and can't find the time to eat at home. I am short - 5ft1!! That's why every pound makes a difference. I also do a desk job with little physical activity and often very long hours. I used to buy my lunch, but now I make it and take it, as otherwise I have no way of controlling the food. Re exercise - I have my own cross trainer and try to get on that at least 5 times a week for 20 minutes. According to my site, that's more than 200 cals of exercise. I assume their calculation is the average calorie burn of someone of my size. The machine cannot be set to show your weight, so that doesn't really tell me anything. I also take my pulse and make sure I am always working out at between 60-80% of my max heart rate. I do have good restriction, but restriction does not stop you from feeling hungry, and I need to really get my head around that. I guess the key is to not make food so important! Thanks for explaining all of this. I know that your plan may not work for me, but I would really like to understand it and see if I can do it, as its clearly worked for you! You are right this is not a diet, but at the minute, I am more focussed on getting the weight off than looking too far into the future. But I do know the more I lose, the less I can think of going back to the bad old ways! Thanks for your patience:thumbup: I hope I'm not too annoying! Mx

Wow! You look fantastic - and so much younger now!! No offence meant btw - although fat keeps the skin plumped up - it doesn't do much for your style does it? I love your dress in the final pic, really nice. :thumbup: Your regime was superstrict wasn't it? Although I can see the advantages - I am really not sure whether I could stick to it. I might try for a week at some point and see how it goes. A usual food day for me is cereal, low fat milk and a banana approx 275cals mid morning 100cal snack and some fruit approx 200 cals lunch is tuna, onion on some low fat crackers approx 250cal afternoon fruit or ricecakes approx 100cal Dinner one pot wonder approx 300cal Low fat hot drink and A 100cal snack approx 200 Altogether that's about, and always below, 1400cals, and according to nutracheck (my dailyplate) that should be enough to lose 2lb a week and get to a 20% loss by february. Do you think it's better to go for a more agressive diet like you did? I am just not sure I could go down to that yet without completely losing heart. It seems like the weight came off really quickly though, which is probably why you didn't plateau, and also achieved so much in such a short time. Can you also explain whether there was any method in your zigzaggin calories, and whether you always went in that order ie 800,100,900 or whether it was random? I've seen a lot of discussion about zigzagging and people say it really works. More words of wisdom please! Mx

Thanks Janet What was your calorie limit when you were my weight - 212lb (if indeed you ever were as I can't remember how much you started out at!) and how did you set your calorie limit? Also, do you snack between meals - on healthy stuff obviously? Or do you really only have 2/3 meals a day and thats it. I am getting hungrier - not sure why, my protein intake is the same, and I am packing in the fruit and veggies. btw, I only record the once a week weight, but I like to keep an eye on the scales for encouragement. They are not going up, they are just not moving!! M

Thanks for stepping into Janet's shoes - much appreciated! I think the thing is that we all want to lose weight SO badly (otherwise we wouldn't even have begun to think about surgery!) and when it doesn't do what it's supposed to and you've been trying really hard, its easy to get demotivated. It has passed now and I don't care if I don't lose anymore this week, I will just keep plugging away at it, and try to move more next week. Mx

Janet - help. I have not lost anything for 5 days. Is this a plateau - or am I overreacting? ( I think I am overreacting, and just want someone to tell me that!):wink2: I continue to be good with the food (although yesterday I just felt SO hungry), and eating 200 less cals a day on the days I cannot exercise or do any physical activity (this is normally the amount of exercise I would do). As an NSV - I was also able to fit into a pair of jeans which I bought 3 months ago, but could not make meet in the middle to do up! I suppose my question is, do you just weigh weekly, or look at your monthly total. If I go on monthly totals, I think 9lbs in one month is fine. Its all a bit fits and starts, and i suppose I am looking for reassurance. Everyone - please feel free to give your views too - I would really like to understand how this works for different people so that I can educate myself and not lose hope. I've been here before where things slowed down, so I think, oh..a bar of chocolate can't hurt, because I'm not losing anything anyway... and suddenly its all gone down the pan, and I'm still fat and unhappy. Hope you can give me some wise words - I think the answer is not to weigh everyday and to review what I did if I do not lose by my next weight in date...:tongue2: Mx

I got 2 free fills with my op - so I'm afraid I don't know because I haven't had to pay for one yet - sorry! You could give the x-ray department a call, I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you. If you find out - please let me know - as I will probably need to go for one at some point! I'm doing ok I think. I was hungrier today, but I am failrly sure it was because my routine got messed up with work yesterday. I also keep climbing on the scales too often which is stupid but strangely addictive. I haven't done much exercise this week either - so it could mean no loss for me when I have my formal weigh in day! I can't take cheese at all - so maybe once you've had a fill that will help keep you off it? What made you decide to have the op this year then? I like knowing what made everyone decide to take the plunge -as its quite scary isn't it, that moment before you go into surgery and you think have I done the right thing? I'm glad I did it because my health was really suffering - I'm only short - so my bmi was really bad. I'm glad I had it done, but know I need to learn to feed myself properly too, as the band can't do everything. That's sort of the hardest part...! Chat soon, M

hiya! i went to see the Duchess - cos that's what every fat chick needs to see - Keira Unsightly looking like a pin! It was quite good though, although my husband looked like he wanted to die halfway through!! Funny about the banana, I find them really easy, and slip one into my cheerios to try and get in one my 5-a-day portions of fruit a day. Have you been recording what you eat? i think that helps loads - although it can be boring too! Mx

Oooh - before I go - can I just say that today, someone in my office bought back treats from their holiday, and for the first time in I don't know how long - I didn't have any!! Yay for me!!!! :girl_hug: Good night Mx

Hi Janet I'm sure we are distant relatives - I agree with your posts so much, I almost feel I wrote them myself! :girl_hug: How are you anyway? I had another good day - no loss yet, though I KNOW I shouldn't get on the $£$!&& scales every morning, but it sort of keeps me motivated. I know I shouldn't expect too much, as I have already lost 9lbs this month, but its so NICE to see it falling off! I did feel hungrier, but it was head hunger, so I beat it with a stick and saw it off. I ate proper food tonight - lean mince (or should I say lean ground beef!) and veggies in a tomato sauce on the basis of you one pot suggestion, and it was really nice. The cats enjoyed it too when I left my plate on the side to do something. I came back and they both had tomato sauce on their whiskers, so I knew they'd been up to no good! I am staying up too late reading this site, as I CANNOT get up in the morning, so off I go to bed. Happy slimming and catch up with you soon! Mx

My turn to apologise - it says very clearly in your signature when and where you were banded - duh!!! Sorry!! M