SuperDaddy!

I feel restriction, and it hurts when I overeat. Isn't it amazing the power of food addiction that I still will eat too much? Let's try and try and try again!

It's so interesting to me that I found this thread tonight....I was about the post the same thing! I think my story is so similar. I've kept off 50 of the 100 I need to lose, but I have been banded since October 05! I have had to come to terms with the fact that I have sat in the same 2-3 pound cylce for over a year. I let my long work hours and many responsibilities just take me out of the game. As far as eating, I have a relatively tight fill, but I manage to eat around it in small amounts, or late at night. I have slowly eaten full size meals until my stomach hurt. It has scared me to think that I could be damaging my body with an addiction to food. How sad it is to realize that I have found a way to "beat" the band...I wish I could try this over again. So here's what I'm doing to change: I'm hitting the high protein liquids for a few days. I'm going to check in with my surgeon (it's been a year!), and I'm going to exercise daily again. We have two choices after what feels like a big failure: you can choose to GIVE UP and fail further, or you can stand up and say I AM BETTER THAN THIS! I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. So I guess this is a resart for me. Care to join me? You have another month until it's officially summer. How much can you accomplish for yourself between now and then?!? Blessings to you this season. Go live victoriously! -Jon

You need a new job! Trim down from the four and make more money! This may be a stretch, since you don't know me from Adam, but I am recruiting people all over the country to promote an online travel business. In a nutshell, I get paid to help people take vacations and promote the fastest growing company in the country, and I get reduced or free travel along the way. I have had several people on my team quite their jobs because they realized they make a lot more money in their own house primarily on the internet. I'm not offering anybody a get rich quick deal...it's work. But the company I rep is over $50 million strong, and we have a product that nobody else has. I need people who are looking for something new. If you send me an email, I'll send you a link to my site that explains the whole thing. You can then check the company out for yourself and see that it's legit. I would LOVE to recruit the whole community of bandsters...but I don't want to overstep the boundaries of this site. Seriously...you can do a LOT better than $10 on your feet after working all day. You're selling yourself way too short. Please email me and see for yourself. Blessings to you! -Jon

*The following is a personal journey that I need to share with someone...somewhere. So many of us have NOT experienced a picture perfect success. My hope is that through this thread, I might have the opportunity to acknowledge where I'm truly at, and perhaps you will identify with it. This is not a challenge, and no prize patrol will follow. It is simply one more humble food addict willing to once again, and with all of my might, DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND...and pray for transformation. If that resonates with you...read on, friends. I have read so many inspiring stories, seen many beautiful metamorphasis pictures, and witnessed great moments in positive support on this board. In recent history, however...I have avoided even visiting the site at all. Matter of fact....I avoided dieting, I've avoided mirrors, I've avoided the gym...and I've avoided the warning signs that my body has changed. ...See, I've seen many success stories, but I have not been one. Last year I lost my mother to breast cancer. I allowed that be my excuse for not focusing on my body's needs. This fall I started my master's classes and allowed that and my 2 jobs to be the reason that I stopped putting forth effort. Now, we have enjoyed every moment of welcoming a brand new baby girl into our home...and that has been the catalyst to me ignoring all the rules instilled in me when I started this band. Drinking while eating, snacking between meals, eating the wrong food, eating late...basically all the things I did before surgery to be fat...except I had somehow subconcieously figured out a way to "beat" the machine. And so, after a few years of holding off a mere 45 lbs. since surgery....I have crept back to within 7 pounds of my surgery weight. I have proven to be a complete and utter band failure. That is...until today. Today is the day I start again. Today, for the sake of my health, for the preservation of my family, and for the fulfillment of my desires....I am praying for God's strength to be a new physical creation again. I know exactly what to do. I know what I have not been doing. They say that it takes an average of 21 days to successfully create new habit. For the next 21 days I'm going to create many new habits...and reintroduce some old ones. I'm going to measure my food...and be honest about that measurement. I'm going to stop eating between meals. I'm going to stop working at night early and sleep for 6 hours or more. I'm going to exercise hard 3 days a week, and lightly 2 days. I'm going to drink all the Water I'm supposed to. I'm going to commit to making time daily to pray and focus myself. I'm going to quit lying to myself and others about what I've done. I'm going to pick myself up, brush myself off, and start over again. And I AM going to win. I certainly welcome you to comment if you have something to share, but I have no expectations of feedback. I plan to add something daily to this thread. If nobody but me reads it, It was still worth it. It's time to be a good steward of the physical gifts I've been given. My heart is strong, my limbs are mighty. I hate being fat still, and yet there are people in this world that would give anything to be as healthy as I am. I will no longer take for granted my potential. Wow...that whole thread looks like a speech from a motivational speaker, huh? Oh well...bring it on anyways! So...I'm going to start with my weight loss at a zero today. Let's see if you can teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks for listening. Go get 'em, gang! Jon - SuperDaddy!

Well....I must not be the most brilliant guy online, because without somebody emailing me back I couldn't find my own thread...Whoops! Never looked under "subscriptions" before, Duh! I've made some progress. It has been a slow start from my idealist February entry. I think I have found a "rythm" for now! I'm down now another handful of pounds. I'll try and get a ticker and weigh in this week. I just had a fill that I hope will give me the mental and physical boost to continue working through this recent hurdle. Also, I joined a gym that's closer and more affordable, both are requirements to me staying with it! I also sat down and put together a game plan with a nutritionalist. So...I hope to take this running start and leap over me platuea. It was a big step for me to go back in there, admit that I'd failed and gained a little back, and admit that I have a food addiction and I can't beat without help. We can't give up, folks. Can't can't can't God, give us all an extra measure of strength, discipline, and peace. You are the great physician. Supply us all that we require to be a success for you in all that we do, including our victories over our dieting struggles. Blessings to you all. I'll check back in soon....now that I've found myself :mad: Jon

Hello Dustmouse, Paladin...and all! This has proven to be a very interesting week. Our newborn angel has had tough time this week in the sleeping department, and in turn that has affected us. So I tried to stick with the diet with no sleep. I would say all in all it was a good start getting back on track. I have a new gym membershship and am commited to going (tomorrow morning I'll be there again). I also have a doctor's appointment less than two weeks (maybe a fill?). I will start posting some weight loss numbers this coming week. I had a goal number I wanted to get back to before I start that ticker again! You know what is a make or break for me...and bet others here at LBT? My SPOUSE! My wife, who is now relatively well-healed from labor, has joined me in my pursuit toward better health. She's not doing this becuase she is particularly overweight, she is doing it because I need it, and she wants to be supportive. With her focusing on healthier choices, too, it makes it so much easier to plan meals, to make time for the gym, to think of long-term health solutions. Thanks for the help, wife! It's going to be a great week, everybody! Let's all post some great losses in one week, deal? Choose just one or two goals and stick with it! My goals this week: To be consistent with my diet, and to meet my exercise gaols. Blessings to you! Jon

Welcome, Kim- I'm just down the street from you in Blaine, and I teach in Andover. There are Minnesotan's lurking, we must all just be quiet Blessings to you! Jon

Welcome, Kim- I'm just down the street from you in Blaine, and I teach in Andover. There are Minnesotan's lurking, we must all just be quiet Blessings to you! Jon

God Bless You, HannahsMama (and the rest of my awesome bandsters!)- I kind of laughed that the day after I said I'd be writing on here daily...my computer crashed! So...my workstation is in the shop awaiting a part, and the back-up at my school gave me win't allow me to enter my log ins to anything. Nice, huh?! Hannah was one of our names before we picked Ella for our daughter! I bet she is such a blessing! I appreciate you sharing your struggles here. I can tell that I struggled for some time about how this surgery would affect my witness. Why don't I just trust fully in God to strengthen me? But truly...why don't we trust Christ in all and for all? I was more concerned about how my witness would look if I got the surgery and the people around me didn't see it working....kind of like what's happened to me (until now!). I want you to know that this band is a part of who I am, but it does not define me. I am defined by my faith in Christ. I am defined by my salvation, by a saviour who loves me despite my faults...and who will allow me time and again to pick myself up and call upon him in need. Speaking of need...boy, do I need Christ's strength in my life right now, friends! With all the meals and crazy newborn scheduling in my house...the effectiveness of this first week going "back to the starting line" was pretty dissapointing to say the least. I didn't overeat, but I also didn't eat every meal as healthy as I wanted. I still have food in the fridge that is junky from all the people that delivered meals with the baby. It's amazing how much this food has had power over me. Well...here in the Twin Cities it is 3am, and I am rocking an angel and typing with one hand (slowly)...but I am fired up for a week of getting my life together further. I have my schedule blocked out with a more diligent attempt at exercise. I have food prepared for tomorrow that will help me see that scale move. And I was once again reminded at church today that I cannot sell short the power of God in my life when I call upon him! Who am I to say I am not strong enough to succeed? I forget that I'm a child of the King, and he is faithful! I believe in the God of miracles that created heaven and earth...is it so hard to fathom that he can take my minor concerns of losing a few pounds this week and strengthen me with that? Of course not! So let's go have a great week, everybody. Meet some goals and make something happen! My prayers are with you. I look forward to giving you a better report....and I'll even get that darn weight ticker back up on my signature this week. I want to see it ticking down again. Grace and Peace- Jon

Audree, Teresita, and Clickster...you go girls (I'm snapping my fingers in Z formation with as much vigor as a white heterosexual male can muster! I am very encouraged daily to see others in the fray right alongside me. I have placed your names on a lil' piece of paper and I will keep my promise of prayer for you. I thank you so much for the same. I beileve that our best healthy days are soon coming! God answers prayer! Go get 'em, bandsters! Jon

Thanks, everybody! LBT friends ROCK! Well...as I mentioned last email, I was needing to be realistic on what I would accomplish this past weekend with dieting. I did not overeat or gain weight...but the Snacks at my brother's house for Superbowl were less than healthy, and the last meal that was delivered from my church in honor of our baby Ella was a huge lasagna...double whammy! On top of that...we have near record lows in Minnesota, with windchills hovering around 40 degrees below zero (yup...that would be a full 72 degrees below freezing!). So I did not get out with the family to do much exercise. Hmm...sounds like I can still dish out the excuses! But....here's Monday, the day I said would be my real Day One! I guess I have no more excuses, huh? The meals that have been coming from church are done (I few meals in the freezer left, but they are actually just main dish Proteins...so those will work into the diet fine.) No major Holidays after Superbowl until Easter. And for the first time in a long while, I believe the desires of my heart to be well can overcome the terrible habits of my head. Actually, Easter coincides with my Spring break. We're not leaving the frozen tundra for anywhere in particular this year with a newborn....but that is 8 weeks away...and a great timing benchmark for me. How much can I accomplish in those 8 weeks? How many new habits and goals can I make stick? Today I am drinking my Water, I MEASURED my lunch, and I have my gym bag for afterschool. Tonight I'm going to go to bed at a human time, and I'm not going to eat after dinner. Lord, give me the strength to accept nothing less than a transformation! Hey...where could you dream of being in this journey in 8 weeks? I'll make a deal with any of you....you mail me your name, and a goal that is realistic for you, however big or small. I will put your name and goal on a piece of paper in my Bible, and I will pray for you every day for 8 weeks. And I will humbly ask the same of you for me. Any takers? Day One for me. Today I'm going to do this thing for my kids. They need a Daddy around for a long, long time. Strength and Grace to you- Jon

Thanks Travelgirl...that's been a favorite verse since I had to memorize it in 3rd grade! Another favorite that I cling to now is Psalms 37: 4-5 "Enjoy serving the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Depend on the Lord; trust him to to take care of you and he will". I'm not a "prosperiety Gospel" guy (the notion that God makes you rich and happy just because you're a Christian)...that does not match up with what I've been taught or experienced. I do see so clearly that God promises to be faithful and to answer earnest prayers of people who put their trust in him. Thanks for the kind words. -Jon

Day one! Wow, dear friends....the response to this thread was unlike anything I would have expected. I have some wonderful suggestions, beautiful encouragement, and people who are admitting to similar struggles. I have a renewed faith in the power of this board and our like-minded pursuits. It is so good to see some names I've recognized in the past. First...let me tell you that this thread doesn't have to be about me. My story of the ups and downs of success is not unique. I encourage you to add to the thread as you see fit...and I will do the same. I am just so thankful that we can lift each other up, and have a dialogue about change. Those of you who have not seen all the posts on the thread, there are some excellent verses and book suggestions within. I plan to find that Gary Smally book when I'm at my local christian bookstore next week. Mark, you brought up a very good point: I cannot fix all the problems of the world (well...even of my little world) at once. I set out some initiatives that I think I can achieve at the same time, such as when and how I drink and eat. I have a new food/water journal, and for the moment, a newfound desire to help me write in it. Much of the other goals I hope to build in over time...but I guess I only explained some big idea stuff I was working through yesterday. Thanks for the reminder....I know that slow and steady wins the race. I just had to rejoin the race! I don't expect perfection....but I'll pray for persistance! So...here are some random thoughts as my new "day one" rolls on. In the world of real-life dilema's....here's one thing this week for me to overcome: We have a very supportive church, and the blessing (but for me....also a curse) of my supportive church is that they send meals for all new babies. I have had a house lovingly filled with meals, treats, and snacks every other day for two weeks. We have hardly cooked once since little Ella came home...and I know we have meals coming until Sunday. You can imagine that when families want to share a meal with you...they send nothing but fattening, carb-filled favorites. A food addict's personal purgatory! So I can pretend that I'm going to ignore this food, throw it out, and gnaw on a carrot....or I can limit myself to a measured portion, commit to not eating anything late, and realistically restart my diet with healthier food choices in three days. I already have a game plan set, and I believe that mentally I'll be ready to start on Monday with this new resolve. One trick that I've thought a lot about is how I need to not allow myself to play the "JUSTIFY GAME!". How many of you have done this, pre-or-post banding: You know there is an unhealthy dinner that you need to go to at night, so you justify eating something unhealthy early...and then you might as well justify somethign unhealthy for lunch, and then you justify not exercising that day....etc, etc. I have a new thing I've been doing as these meals kept coming from church- COMPENSATION! In other words...if I know that people are coming with big, unhealthy meals at night. So, I taper off my eating to healthier choices and smaller portions during the early part of the day, and then try to eat a smart amount of the food that is sent. Truthfully, I have a relatively tight band fill...so I can't imagine what pain I would feel with another fill. The problem has not been that I overeat. It's been that I've been drinking a little when I eat...which of course helps food slide right through. Also, I graze more as these big meals sit in my fridge. It's so stupid, isn't it? I have a $10,000 device in my stomach to help me drop weight....and I've found ways to work around. ....But then again, this is the whole reason I wanted to start this thread: To admit that what I've done has failed...and that the time to change is now Enough ramblings for today. I wish you all the very best this weekend. I'm going to commit to exercising two days in a row this weekend, and kicking up my water. I will post my weight loss on Monday. To be honest, I cannot tell you how much I'm looking forward to having these wonderful meals stop being delivered. Monday the world starts looking a lot different. in some ways...that will be my day one. Strength, Grace, and Peace to You- Jon

Hi Steph! I actually live in Blaine, right next to Ham Lake where your sister is. I teach in Andover, the city on the other side of Ham Lake. So it's a small world. Welcome! Jon

Superdaddy with baby Ella....trying to remember how to hold on to a slippery little honey in her first tub time!

Ella, Superdaddy's 4th bambino!

SuperDaddy is a NEW daddy again! Welcome to the world, Ella! The good Lord was just showing off when he made this lil' thing!

Sheila and Teresita...you just made my day. Sometimes when I get down about slow weight loss or something else, it is so great to remember that we are all children of the King. There is nothing on the Earth that I want more for my kiddos than for them to fully know that, too. Lord bless you both today! Jon

Here's one more of my sweeties!

Look at my kiddos! I couldn't resist posting this one! We have baby number four coming any day now, too! My wife sure knows how to bake 'em!

Well...if I may be so bold as to suggest something to you both (JQ and tired old man)...I would suggest that you're both right, and perhaps misundertanding each other a little as well. My wife was abused by her brother's best friend as a child (oddly enough, his name was Eric, too). My childhood youth pastor was recently charged with several counts of indecent exposure and lude conduct. Are these people inherantly evil...well, Biblically speaking YES! But guess what? So are you. And so am I. I would like to share my perspective on this that is based on scripture from the Bible. I do not wish to offend anyone, but it would seem as though my opinion is as valid as the many others here. My favorite book (chapter, if you will) in the Bible is the book of Romans. The apostle Paul wrote it 2,000 years ago to affirm a group of Christians in Rome, and he rebuked the lawless, godless superpower of the day that was the Roman empire. Romans 3:23 says "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Since the first sin, there has a been a separation between God and Man. We live in a fallen world. We are bombarded daily by sexual perversion, greed, and godlessness. It is flaunted in front of us like a merit badge in the media. There is not one man alive, nor one that has ever lived, that can bridge that gap between God and ourselves. The great news is that God sent a savior to redeem us. That's Jesus. This is not some cute little story, is the very purpose of our existence. Romans 3:24 continues on that we are "justified freely by his grace through the redemtion that came by Jesus Christ." Romans 6:23 offers a similar passage: "For the wages of sin is death [Hell], but the gift of God is eternal life [Heaven] in Christ Jesus our Lord." So in other words, we have all sinned, and we are all in need of the same redemption, the same savior. It is not my part, nor anyone else for that matter, to try and judge these people. But God will judge each of us, and our acceptance of Jesus and his gift of sacrifice will be the only thing that spares us. What a marvelous free gift. I wish I could tell you all in person how great it is to know that the God of the Universe sent his only son to rescue even a messed up dude like me! In regards to your friend Eric (and my former youth pastor), I fear for them, as the Bible also states "woe to you who lead these children astray! It would be better if you had never been born!". The children he molested will have scares and damage for life. He has allowed this "sick" world to manifest it's perversion through innocent children. It's so devastating I, too, struggle with weakness and sin daily. But I have hidden hope in my heart because of Jesus. I'm sure that many will read this and scoff, but I am speaking the truth...and I pray that even one of you heard it and earnestly seeks his amazing grace and peace for your life today. Jon

"...they are before the throne of God. They worship him day and night in his temple. And the one who sits on the throne will be present with them. Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never thirst again. The sun will not hurt them, and no heat will burn them, becuase the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of water that give life. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes. " Revelation 7:15-17 "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you" John 14:2 Last night my dear mother in law was given complete release from her three years of suffering and battling breast cancer. She died in my father in law's arms. I'm not sure what kind of prayer to ask for, but we need it, especially my wife. We take great comfort in knowing the God of the universe is faithful, indeed. He loves us and we know Audrey is basking in the warmth of Jesus' presence right now. -Jon

Ooooh...I love this stuff! I haven't kissed anybody famous....and nope, for sure no cowboys. I've filled up a darn good resume, though... -Marrried my high school sweetheart and have had a blissful marriage for 12 years. -helped build a full-size traders outpost cut-log fort and created "Fort Lone Tree", a big summer ranch (bible camp) for teenagers. -Had lunch and sang for the "original" govornater, Jesse Ventura -Skated with Tony Hawk before anyone had every really heard of him (I was about 12, though!). -Road a mountain bike to the top of Laramie Peakin Wyoming and lived through a fall when my brakes failed on a switchback going down (I was a lot skinnier then!) -killed, breaded, and eaten a rattlesnake -sang at that Nashville Predators stadium for 8,500 people -Sang in 30 states and toured from the pacific to the atlantic ocean four times with my band -played college football at the Metrodome in Minneapolis 4 times. -In musical theater I've played dracula, Curly the cowboy, a man-eating plant, an angel, and king charlemagne -got married as a virgin -put my own hardwood floors in our new house. -hit a drunk pedestrian while driving a 30 foot dock tuck and knocked him 20 feet (and he didn't even need stitches). -sung in over 400 churches and college campuses -built a HUGE cedar playground for my kids with zero help. -sold a $1.4 million dollar house (too bad it wasn't mine). -have never been to strip club of any kind. Such a wuss! -have received workman's comp on two broken ankles at the same time -have sung on 13 different albums -shopped a song to Aaron Neville that was accepted (had to sing like him). -have visited the Mall of America over 200 times -can still dead lift the back end of most compact cars....although when I first did that to impress the dear woman who is now my wife...I ripped the rusty bumber of of my Dad's Plymouth Horizon. That was a rough one to try and explain in the morning! That's it...and baby number four is well on the way to boot! Keep sharing, gang. Jon

Whew...you take a few months off of posting and....Blammo! There goes the whole neighborhood. I better go and see what hasn't been deleted and catch up. P-nut deleted? What is going on? Stay Strong Girls! Jon

So good news...I think I made real estate history in my little corner of the world. In two weeks I've listed two and sold 7. Wahoo! Um...well I'll just be honest: I've been a bad boot camper. The GOOD news is that my mega work hours did not translate into ANY weight gain.The BAD news is that my mega work hours did not translate into ANY weight loss. So poop all over that. I haven't had time to catch my breathe, much less exercise. I have three weeks before a major much needed East Coast vacation...I'll get back on track and lose 12 before that...promise! I miss you, bandland. I'll check in again after this flurry of business slows just a little bit. Jon