tapshoes

I came this close to my October goal; I have to work even harder to make Novembers!

Happy Hallowe'en, my fellow VVs This will probably be a challenging weekend for all of us - between the chocolate, and the chips, and the NUTS!!! So, let's try to have some distractions and alternatives planned or available, and if we have a taste of our particular demon food, then keep it to a taste, and then stop. Don't beat yourself up over it. Do not let it be the beginning of self-defeating behaviors....do you get the idea I am really talking to myself???? We can do it; we are stronger than our cravings!

Happy Hallowe'en, Happy Friday, and happy 'birthday' to this thread! Gonna sit back and enjoy my cup of java and reread some of the beginning of this thread...that'll set my mood up for the day.

RSG - that's a positive achievement - you had a 'bad' weekend, and still did not gain! Great! So avoid the candy and the booze this weekend...and see what next week brings.

What she said!

30 minutes of arms/upper body weights 40 minutes of cycling 35 min slip/slide walk No shovelling - yahoo!

Yesterday B: 1/2 bowl of oatmeal with chopped apple L: bowl of lentil soup; ff yogurt S: apple D: 2 oz cooked turkey with turnip and carrot S: ff yogurt

I want to succeed, and that only comes with sticking to the plan and hard work.

Ezma - but the fact that it wasn't as good as you remember may work to fool your mind into not craving it as much. That slip was yesterday, it's history. On with the south beach plan... Thinner - You lost the battle of the chocolates, but you will win the war! Perhaps making yourself sick on them will curb your appetite for them? SMS - yes, I can appreciate eating to stay awake...how about something that (at least for me) takes a long time to eat - like an apple?

I know that I will forever be mindful of chewing...chew...chew...chew I know that I could not have achieved the weight loss to date without the band. I know that regardless of my success, I will always feel embarrased I let my body 'go' so far. I know that I will eventually be the body size/weight combination with which I am happy. I know that I should have done this several years ago. I know that if there was a magic pill to cure my cravings for nuts, I would take it. I know that my lifestyle changes will impact DH - and ideally mean we are together longer. I know that my family are proud of my success to date. I know that if anyone had said I would become 'a regular' at the Y and be there before 6am 4 days a week, I would not have believed them. I know that I have to keep exercising, even though I do not enjoy it. I know that I have tremendous respect for many of the people I have met on this forum, and that we would not have 'met' were it not for this band.

Another snowy morning - but it is Thursday - yeah!! Scales - don't own any; don't believe in harbouring the enemy within my house; instruments of torture are not my idea of house accoutrements. Aussie - would LOVE to visit; originally was debating between this surgery or a once in a lifetime trip to Aus. Obviously I chose the surgery; perhaps someday I'll be able to afford to travel to the far east. Aboriginals, Indians, Native Americans, First Nations...regardless of the term used, there is (or should be) a embarrasment/guilt over their treatment over history. Politics - not in this thread, please!

It took a LONG time at first for the weight loss to translate into a clothing size change - probably around 30 pounds or so. Now my weight loss is slower, but the clothing sizes change faster. Bizarre, I know!

Welcome back!!! And as for the surprise - you look fabulous! One of the before and to date pics almost seem like a pic of your mother and you! You look so much younger! yeah you!!! Sounds like your life has been hectic, and yet you have been doing so well. Keep up your great work!

I can relate - I also had to break out the shovels! 30 minutes of shovelling at 5am!

THANKS ladies!

Oh Ezma, don't torture me by telling me it's warm somewhere!! That's DH and my dream - if ever oh ever I can retire, I want to move somewhere where snow only appears on Christmas cards, and dressing to go outside in winter doesn't involve lined winter boots, thick socks, mittens, scarves, hats, hand warmer packets, kleenex in pockets, thick down-filled coats.... Yeah Ezma for avoiding temmptation, AND losing more weight - that is fabulous!!!! Perhaps when you next attend a cancer-support meeting you can take something YOU can eat - like some nuts!!!!

Way to go, littlefroggy. Yes indeed, the first step IS the most difficult. I too didn't want to go to any club - felt I would be the object of great laughter, derision and snide comments from the lycra-clad perfect bodies. Well, I knew I would have to get over it, and I did. Im still not 'comfortable', but really no one is looking at anyone else, or caring about what they do or look like. So, I got over it and go.

Today - 30 min on the 'wave' - OUCH! 35 min brisk walk 30 min shovelling heavy snow!

I was eating salads within a few weeks once given the 'go' for regular foods. I really enjoy a nice chicken caesar salad. Like Luluc, veggies and fruit haven't presented any challenges...actually, no food has. I still eat all the regular foods - lucky me!

Hope the meds work, Luluc. Yesterday B: 1/2 bowl of oatmeal with mixed fruit L: 1/2 cup egg salad; ff yogurt S: 1 tbsp peanut butter with 1 apple D: 1/2c sweet and sour pork with 2 tbsp rice; ff pudding S: ff pudding

For my good business suits, I paid the money and had them altered. That way, I could keep them (and I paid alot of money for them and looked good in them), and still get my monies worth. Other clothing though, I couldn't wait to get rid of - I donated to a few charities including a women's shelter. There was one fancy chic beaded sweater I hated to part with, and waited 7 months to finally say goodbye to it - it broke my heart to part with it, but it could not be remade, and was just taking up room. So, finally it went.

My October goal just MIGHT be achievable...

Pickles as a substitute? Well, if it works, that's the main thing! Congrats on the 158... So for my extra exercise event....does shovelling heavy wet snow for 30 minutes this morning count????

Yeah you!! Walking/slipping/sliding in a winter wonderland this morning. Heart attack snow (for those in the more southern climates, it is very heavy wet snow - very heavy. many suffer heart attacks when shovelling it). So DH and I were out at 5am shovelling our little driveway. Then when walking back from the Y to work, no snow ploughs had been out, roads were a mess, no sidewalks salted, and it was a tough walk.... Love my hot coffee and being INSIDE when outside it's rotten!!!

Tina Thanks for the update; I do wonder how things are going, but hate to ask. I know that this is a very trying difficult process, and I am glad that you are working with the physician in finding appropriate meds to help you. My thoughts are with you.