Angelyco

I feel the same way. Some of those people weigh HALF as much as my starting weight. Shay said it best last season...her finale weight is still higher than some people STARTED at. I just can't feel as much sympathy or cheer for someone who, to me, isn't really that big. Amanda last season was still crying over her weight at like 190 - it drives me nuts. FIVE people went home last night. Sure, two of them will get to come back, but that was just ridiculous. The Pink team looks an awful lot like Helen and Shannon in season 7...so weird. I'm very proud of the twin that went home, 100 pounds in 2 months is awesome for doing it himself at home. I also just realized that when they started taping this season, the contestants don't even know who won last season at this point.

I'm a little late to the party but I'm in! I did the Labor Day challenge but failed horribly...I just got a fill and I'm cruising along now. I'm more motivated this time around and I would love to set another goal. Since this started around Thanksgiving I'm going to use my weight from then as the starting (I didn't lose anything for months until last week anyway).

For women who haven't had a baby, it does hurt - alot. It's much easier for woman who have went through childbirth, since the cervix isn't so "tight" and unstretched. I've thought about Mirena but I don't want periods at all and frankly the pain scares me.

I've been on Depo for over 7 years now and I was banded a year and a half ago. I had the same experience; I spotted for about 2 weeks when I was losing rapidly right after surgery. I haven't spotted again since then. I didn't gain any weight with Depo (I actually went on a diet/exercise plan for awhile and lost 55 lbs. the same year I started it); at least I didn't gain anything that I can't attribute to my horrible eating that made me gain 150 lbs. back after dieting. One thing I do notice though is a few weeks before my shot is due, I start getting hungry all the time and want to eat everything in sight. As soon as I get my shot, the hunger goes away again. The trick for getting around that for me was just knowing WHY I was so hungry all of a sudden...now that I know what's causing it, it's easier for me to deny cravings. My doctor recommended switching to Mirena since I don't plan on having kids (at least not for a long time), but there's no guarantee that I won't get my period, which is why I love Depo so much. I'd rather get a shot every three months than possibly start getting periods again.

Sorry I'm posting so much, but I'm finally having good news with my band and I don't have too many people to talk to about it! I wasn't going to weigh myself until Monday, especially since I went to 2 Christmas dinners yesterday, but I was so close to 50 lbs gone that I couldn't help myself. I'm down to 393.6, which means I did in fact break 50 lbs! And I haven't went (ahem) number 2 yet so I would weigh even less after that. So now I've lost over 8 pounds just since Monday, I'm hoping I can get to 10 by this coming Monday, I would be so happy to be able to tell my NP that number when I call her. Not like she wouldn't be ecstatic if I only lost a few pounds, considering my year-long plateau. The dinners went well yesterday though, I just controlled myself and honestly I didn't really have to force myself to hold back like I thought I would have to. I just knew I didn't need much food and it's amazing, it's the first time it didn't bother me that I couldn't eat much. I ate very little and I was just fine with that, I wasn't agonizing over wanting to eat more or trying to shove more food into my band. And thankfully both of the families knew about my band and they were very understanding that I couldn't eat much, so they didn't get offended that I didn't take much or finish everything like they do with everyone else! Even last night after I got home I thought I was getting hungry again, but I just kept drinking fluids and went to bed and I was fine. I'm really starting to love my band again

Merry Christmas to me!! I lost 7 pounds since my fill Monday! I'm down 49 now - so close to 50! I also hit my first goal, which is to be under 400. I'm so happy!! Now if I can keep from gaining anything back with two Christmas dinners tomorrow... Thanks for all your support! My nurse practitioner will be so happy when I talk to her Monday

No offense taken! Keeping a food journal is by far the most common suggestion for weight loss--almost every single article I read even in magazines will still mention this. It just isn't effective for everyone :biggrin: The only sad part is that the first time I had to keep a journal was in THIRD GRADE! And even back then it didn't help me, back then it was like "So I ate 6 hot dogs, what about it?" Now it's more like "So I had two cookies today, and they were good, what's the problem?" :tongue: I forgot mention this before but today I woke up with a little heartburn and I still have a little going on. I know it's not a good sign but I'm hoping that means some lasting restriction this time. I just had half a cup of this delicious carrot soup my husband made last night and I'm full! I'm not too hungry yesterday and today, but just knowing I can't eat solid food is giving me HUGE HUGE cravings and I want to eat everything in sight!

I don't keep a food journal because I have in the past and they don't really do anything for me; I'm always aware of what I eat, including the bad stuff and "extras" like condiments, journaling doesn't make me stop and think "oh my god, look what I was eating!" because I already know exactly what I eat. I don't do protein shakes at all, my program is "food based" and prefers to get the protein from food, BECAUSE shakes are just extra calories and liquid, they don't work with the band to fill you up. As for slider foods, I don't eat them -because- they go around my band, I could eat just as much hard protein (chicken, etc) as I could soft foods. It's been a combination of me not making the right choices AND lack of restriction, because the reason I've always failed at dieting in the past is because I hate being hungry, and restricting portions and whatnot just didn't do it for me, I would just end up binging and going back to my old habits. I need restriction to keep me from being hungry. I know it might sound like I'm relying on my band to do too much of the work, but I wouldn't have gotten the band if I could do it myself. I have to admit though, I make MUCH better choices now than before my band, I don't eat as much junk food or sweets, I'm back to absolutely no soda (and I'm not missing it!), so all I think I need is to finally get the restriction I need and things will get back in motion.

I got another fill today. I had 10cc last time, there was only 9 left in when she pulled it all out. So she put me up to 10.5, originally she went up to 11 but thought it was too tight so took a little out. I'm a little nervous because it might not be enough - she said my band was already tight before she started taking out/adding, but today was a strange day. I was off work, so I didn't wake up until after 10 AM and ate breakfast (just some cereal) around 11. My fill was around 1 PM. My concern is that I'm usually a little tight in the morning, but I usually wake up around 7:30-8, eat breakfast at 9, and then get my fill around 1 and I'm usually not tight anymore by 11 or 12. I'm afraid that my morning tightness affected my fill and that I'm really not as tight as she thinks I am. I guess I'll see how it goes, but she won't be very happy if I want another fill, since I'm at 10.5 out of 14 now and there's not much further we can go. I'm supposed to see a psychologist and a nutritionist before getting anymore fills. I'm really starting to get frustrated, my goal was to lose 150 lbs this year and I don't think I even lost 10.

So many things to talk about! I had to write all my comments down as I finally watched the finale today. Amanda looks REALLY pretty now! She never was and never will be one of my favorites but I have to give her credit. Tracy looks a lot older now and she looks anorexic. Sorry for TMI but she's completely flat-chested now, that dress didn't look right because of it, though it was a gorgeous dress. When they showed Liz by her old self, she honestly just doesn't look much different from when she started. I think it's interesting that her and Amanda actually ended up being less than 1% away from each other, I believe. I love Rebecca, but her new hairdo looks AWFUL and her dress looks like she picked it out of the kids' department. It was really really unflattering and you could see the extra skin around her thighs. I was honestly thinking about that when I saw Rebecca and Dina - especially because Rebecca wouldn't say a word for a long time until after she had gotten moved to first place. They interviewed Danny on my local radio show this morning. One of the DJs asked him if he knew how much he weighed before the finale so that when they told him how much he needed to lose to beat Rudy, if he knew if we won or not. He said he hadn't weighed himself for awhile before the finale and when he saw Rudy's numbers, he was just praying that he lost as much as he needed to. They also asked about the extra skin - he said he uses something called a "Yummy Tummy" to keep it pulled in. He also talked about how there is a plastic surgeon who talks to the contestants right after the finale to offer their services and what they can do, etc. It's nice to have access to such a huge radio station, they've talked to Bob, Jillian, Tara, and Danny now. I'm sure they've talked to others as well that I just didn't hear. I can't believe the new season starts in January already, it looks like they're going to keep doing 2 seasons a year now instead of one a year.

Tara did look like she gained a bit back, but she still looks really good and I'm still proud of her. I don't think she'd let herself gain it ALL back, maybe her body is just more comfortable with a little extra cushion.

I knew I saw him in the crowd! I was waiting for them to have a little mini-interview with him or point him out somehow, or do SOMETHING, but they just showed him in the crowd in that one shot and that was it.

Hey all I'm still alive and kicking (mostly kicking myself these days!). I still haven't budged from 402, those last 3 pounds to get to my first goal just don't want to happen. I had great restriction for about 3 weeks after my last fill, then either due to needing my next birth control shot (in which I start getting super hungry all the time) or my band loosening again, the restriction is mostly gone again. I'm going to make an appointment with my nurse practitioner today, I know she'll be disappointed but she's awesome and she'll try to help me get through this plateau. I'll have to see her anyway before I can get another fill, so two birds with one stone. Allie, I'm so happy for you with your surgery! :tongue2:

I knew it would be down to Liz and Amanda for the third finalist spot. Rudy and Danny just have so much weight to lose that their percentages don't even compare. I'm really curious how the guys still lost so much weight. I think it was Rudy that lost 59 pounds--in 60 days. How were they pulling those big numbers when doing it at home? I get this feeling that they were using less than honorable ways to get there, because I know one of them said they can only work out 2 hours a day, and with spending 12 hours a day working, I doubt he even did it every day. Maybe I'm just skeptical, but 7 pounds a week for about 8 weeks straight is really unrealistic to pull off at home with just diet and exercise. I hate the way they word the voting on the website - who would you like to shield from elimination? It should be either who do you want to eliminate, or who do you want to make it into the finals? Too confusing. I voted to shield Amanda, because Liz just keeps getting on my nerves. Honestly I don't want either one of them in the finals. I thought Amanda would finish first in the marathon, since she's the smallest and I would think that running would be easiest on her body. I was happy to see Dina came back to run with Rudy, but I thought she had lost more weight when they showed her progress when she was eliminated. I was jumping up and down when I saw Tara come join them - she's still my favorite Green Machine :tongue2:

Lots to talk about from this week's shows. I just noticed that there weren't many Temptations this season. I only remember a few at the beginning of the season. Bob and Amanda are getting a little too touchy-feely in front of the cameras. It was almost sickening to see them fawning over each other this week. Amanda has lost the least amount of weight, started out the smallest (I think) so I don't really see her as a "hero" and so high on a pedestal like that. I also noticed that, unless I missed it, they haven't shown the overall weight loss percentages like they have in previous seasons, which they usually show a few weeks away from the final so everyone knows roughly where they stand. This week they also revealed that Liz is having marital problems when she was talking to Suze Orman. That just makes me feel creepy when I see her and Danny getting so mushy over each other, and when during the elimination someone said they were "more than friends." It makes me think at least Liz might have other feelings for Danny, which even we were talking about here how close they were being a bit too much for married people. I'm sad that Allen got sent home. I wanted Liz to go home, but I also didn't want Amanda in the finale either, because I don't feel like she earned it as much as the others, she's mostly had small weeks and hasn't really lost that much. I really thought Amanda would send Liz home for Liz having written her name down 2 weeks ago. I'm glad they finally did a special "Where Are They Now" episode. The only thing I didn't like is they didn't really showcase each person's story, which is what I was interested in, they were focused more on one aspect, like their new career as a personal trainer, or marrying someone from the show, etc. I don't blame Eric for wanting to avoid Bob, if I won the Biggest Loser and gained all the weight back, I'd hide too. Especially after Ali (I think it was her) said that Eric's finale was what really motivated her to come on the show.

I used to like Liz, but I think part of the reason I don't like her anymore is for the same reason everyone was getting on her last night--she doesn't show any enthusiasm for being on the ranch anymore. She doesn't have the fight in her to stay. Even her attempt to "fight" for herself seemed droopy to me. I feel bad for Liz though because even though she's lost 60ish pounds, she barely looks any different after her makeover. She wasn't a very large person so that's not it; I think it's just the way she's built and the way she carries her weight, she's very blocky. I'm not sure who I want to win now. Amanda carries her weight very well and she doesn't look overweight at all anymore, even though she's very close to Rebecca and Liz's weight, and they all look so different with the same weight. The finale is sneaking up on me this year, the eliminations didn't matter so much so I didn't even realize when we were down to 5 contestants. Just a strange season overall.

I finally found someone I liked and they get voted off...I was starting to root for Rebecca. I'm just tired of Liz, Rebecca was right, Liz has had a lot of chances and still isn't doing very well. I was surprised and annoyed at the outburst between Rebecca and Rudy though after the elimination. Rebecca looks GOOD now! Wow!

Last season I couldn't wait to come talk about the episodes as soon as they were over. Now it's like "Eh, I guess I should check the thread..." I really liked Daniel, but I'm glad he got sent home. I feel like he wasn't pulling big enough numbers consistently to keep earning his second chance on the show. I don't like Shay's personality, I got really tired of her talking about her past with her mother, because it did give the "Pity me!" cry every time. I think I identified with her though because she was so large...Amanda drives me nuts because she was never that big to begin with and was complaining about being slightly over 200 ruining her life. Try being over 300 in college and THEN tell me what it's like. I know it's all about game play but I really wish Shay could have stayed, she has so much more weight to lose and Amanda is almost done. I used to like Liz, now she's just annoying. Rudy's actions during the challenge really bothered me. We all saw their little "hoop alliance"! And then to say that "Oh, I guess she thought we had this, but I never said that..." I thought that was low. Yeah, you play the game, but you don't have to be a liar to do it. I agree about David and Daniel. They used to be best friends, now it's like they never see each other anymore. I'm VERY disappointed in David's attitude. It also kind of triggered something in me though, because I suspected for awhile that one of the reasons I'm not so gung-ho about losing weight is that I don't have any health problems yet. Keyword: YET. I'm only 25, and being overweight WILL catch up to me sooner or later. It seems like food is more important to David than losing weight is, when I think about last season. That also scares me, because sometimes I feel like that too. How many weeks are left until the finale? Anyone know?

This season is just so confusing for me to watch anymore. The Black team isn't doing well when it normally kicks ass (because of Jillian), people are definitely sacrificing themselves alot, as already stated, and so far, few (if any, actually) of the people I expected to go home actually have. I'm always being surprised at the eliminations, and not in a good way. I'm up in the air about Tracy right now. I still think she's a bitch, but I'm confused about her attitude. She's always so eager and excited to be working out. Yes, I know that she had to sit out for quite awhile after her hospital stay, but I'm just wondering if her excitement is real or just a show. I've noticed that we don't see her interacting with the trainers AT ALL now that she's actually in the gym. The only time they show her is when she's saying "omg I get to use the treadmill." I'm really curious if Bob has to push her and fight with her or if she really is just that gung-ho about being able to exercise now.

So far so good...I've been trying to control my portions because I really don't need to eat much! I feel like I might actually have restriction and now it's a matter of adjusting my brain to realize I don't have to eat a lot of food just because it tastes good and stop taking huge portions, because if it's on my plate, I WILL try to eat it! The only bad thing is that I'm still eating just a tad more than I need to, and I've had heartburn for about 24 hours now. I only ever had heartburn twice before in my life, about a week after my surgery, two days in a row.

You can tell how uneventful this season is so far by how many people are actually talking about it here...last season was awesome.

So I got my fill yesterday with the new nurse practitioner in my doctor's office. I was expecting to see my doctor, but I love this woman and I was happy to see her when they brought me into the room. She's excellent and she talks to me, my doctor will answer questions but he has been getting very dismissive when I get my fills. Now I'm up to 10ccs out of 14 and I pray that this makes a difference. At least she shares my philosophy that there's no point in having the band if you don't get fills for it to help you! I also weighed myself this morning, I hadn't since the disastrous 411 at my doctor's office a few weeks ago, and I was 404. I don't know if I lost weight or if the clothes I was wearing/food I ate that day made that much of a difference (which I think was the case). If I can just lose 5 pounds from this fill, I'll be incredibly happy. Of course, I'm always hoping this will be the one and I'll start losing regularly.

Someday, I will actually be losing weight and I will post here more consistantly. I think not having anything to report is what keeps making me disappear. I'm somewhere around 411 right now, up from my last fill, when I got down to 402. My last fill was in the end of July and I'm getting another fill next Thursday. I feel like such a failure right now. This spring and early summer, I was exercising and walking, but I haven't done that since my last fill either. I don't watch what I eat. I still don't have good restriction (with 8cc in a 14cc band) and I can eat about as much as I could pre-band. Almost a year and a half now and I still haven't even lost 50 lbs. I know that it's up to me to eat healthier, but I just feel like my band isn't pulling its weight (no pun intended) and it discourages me from trying to diet, when diets have always completely backfired on me in the past. I'm just glad my Junies are always here for me, even if I'm not always here for them :thumbdown: You guys are all doing so great, I guess it just makes me feel even worse about where I am right now.

That was exactly what I was thinking about recently with this issue--how would they know if you have a leak then?

WHY IS TRACY STILL HERE?! AHHHHHHH :scared2: I'm surprised the Black team didn't flog the Blue team for not getting rid of her. Funnily enough, while Shay was on the scale, I was actually thinking that crying is great for weight loss :w00t: