Numbrgirl

It is nice to have someone (or a group of someones....) that you can readily identify with. I have learned so much and found so much like-mindedness here - I am glad I made the April Bandsters Club! One more day and I would have been shoved into M A Y !!!!!! 8-) Anyone got big plans for Memorial Day?

Turler - welcome back to the "gurgling club" !!! Sometimes when I am sitting in a quiet conference room I can hear my ice tea making its way through the tunnel!! So embarassing but nothing to stop it!! 8-)

Congrats Tyme!! I will be there soon!!!:cool2:

because being on plan is becoming a way of life.............

Also I would rethink the eating habits - if you can pinpoint the normal time that the hunger is going to strike - late in the afternoon, then don't deprive yourself of the protein during the day and about the time it will hit - find a protein that is the most satisfying to you. I am convinced that anyone can do this - you just have to work at finding the right formula for you - what works for me - might not work for you - but what about starting out slow, watch tv AND exercise at the same time. My knees started hurting me so bad that is really what got me to decide on the surgery, I was becoming more and more lethargic. Now I run 2-3 miles just about everyday and switch between treadmill and eliptical. Don't throw in the towel = just be diligent in finding what works for you!!! It is all in the secret of eating less and moving more!!

Hi Kidder - with all due respect, to say "I am not a fruit and veggie person" - makes me immediately think - "well, what heavy person naturally is????" I see this whole experience as a forceful way of imposing rules and restrictions on yourself - with a band that reinforces it. I know for myself I have really got to want it and be determined that I am no longer going to live a certain way and that I am going to abandon certain habits. Otherwsie why go through the motions? Unless a person has been living under a rock, we all know the right decisons, right choices and right rules to follow - it is just getting up every morning and determining that we are going to put the tool to work for us and expect and work towards good results. The band works but not by itself. It seems disappointing to have been at something for a year only to experience a small weight loss - but I give you credit for not making 1001 excuses like some others I have seen on this board!!

Funny I was just talking about facebook this morning. I absolutely refuse to sign up for facebook - even though I get 2-3 invites a week. I am too busy, too old, and just not that interested!!!!! Some people say they like it for the pictures, etc. I don't want to be bothered!!!! Twitter sounds pretty cool at times - especially when devoted to specific topics and the fact that you cannot go over a certain amount of words - but I haven't experienced it and don't know if they have a way to control the profanity etc. In those situations - either you have an articulate vocabulary or all you do is swear and the latter is definitely not attractive to me. Technology - keeping up with it - sometimes a huge pain. I do like this board and all of you though!!! :cool2:

Hi Everyone GDF - I just received my marching orders to get my one year blood work done - I am a bit worried about vitamin deficiencies. I have tried to keep with with my centrum chewables and viactiv calcium but somes I just get so busy. I have a good diet and obviously lots of protein so hopefully everything will be good. I didn't have bad levels at the beginning. I have always been a "healthy fat person" - no high blood pressure, cholesteral, etc. but I do think there will be some improvement. Maybe I will wait a week and eat a lot of fish!! Purchasd a size 14 pants today - they were a little snug but th 16's are too loose. I am sure others of you are experiencing this to - the in between stage - a little frustrating but there are worse things in life!!! :thumbdown: Some of my acid reflux has started to subside which means that my band is starting to loosen up a bit. When I saw my Dr this week I talked to him about taking some out but I think I am so close to the sweet spot - as they call it that I didn't really want to tinker with it. I have another follow up appt in 3 months so maybe it will all be gone by then. Funny with this, I never experienced it my whole band experience until the last 2 months. I think it just comes when the band is too tight.... Continued best wishes to all of you!! It is a board with lots of good news.

Because today is my one year anniversary from receiving the band and I am so thrilled with my progress. The goal weight is ever more coming into sight...........Yeah to all diligent bandsters!! F R E E D O M!!

For milder reflux - over the counter ZANTAC150 works wonders - reflux instantly gone after swallowing the pill - no joke. I don't need it all the time but when I do it brings instant relief.

Itquam ~ you are sooooooooo right!! Exercise is the real key to success on this journey. When I don't exercise the losing slows way down as soon as I get diligent again, it picks up and remains steady. It does more than just provide physical weight loss - it makes me want to make better choices with food and I start to evaluate or analyze what impact that particular indulgence will have on my body. It somehow becomes not worth it. I can have a treat like a low carb ice cream bar or even a few hersheys square of chocolate and it is fine - if I have exercised I never give it another thought because I know that my body is burning long after I have completed the cardio work. I have lost over 100 lbs now and it is an absolute thrill to feel the freedom and waves of physical happiness that comes with it........Be encouraged ladies this does work - IF, IF, IF we remain diligent. Ask for God to give you strength and endurance and then make an effort to run the race - without allowing any of the old habits to entangle you and trip you up!! Granted, there will still be off days but we can do all things through HIM who gives us the strength!!! :tt1:

Because 102lbs lost is proof that the plan works.....on my way down......!!!

Hello Everyone! Well tax season is over! Thank God! I have been so busy haven't be here much. I wanted to brag a little and say that I jumped from 99 lbs right to 101lbs. Never quite saw the 100 lb mark - although I was stuck at the 99 number for quite a while. My anniversary date is April 30 and I see my doctor again on the 22nd - so maybe I will receive a star or happy face!! I just want to encourage everyone - not to get discouraged! I think we see much more success in this particular group than I see in other areas of the board - so I might just be preaching to the choir. I am still away from goal but it feels so good to pass the 100 lbs mark and start to feel like what society deems as "normal"............ Best wishes to everyone! Thanks for the many posts that helped to get me where I am today.

Hi All ~ Someone asked about Salmon - yummy! We buy the fillets from the seafood case and then bring them hope - get a non stick sheet of aluminum foil - coat some olive oil on the inside of the sheet - lay the fish down - brush the fish with olive oil - wrap it up - put it on the bbq for 6-7 min each side and when it is ready - it is absolutely fabulous!! Close to restaurant style and much cheaper!! Before the band I NEVER bothered with fish - but I am telling you if you try it you will like it - and a great thing is - no mess! Just throw the foil away!! I am happy to say that the Zantac is still working great. I didn't have much of an appetitie for two days and didn't bother to take it - and had very little reflux symptoms. Thank God - that is definitely no fun!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Thanks Jachut, I will check those DVDs out. I do find when I am working out with the weights I am bored and wish I was off running.....45 lbs - wow, can say I am anywhere near that strong.... I am at a place where I want to focus on certain areas - which everyone seems to says you can't really do..... my problem areas are the flabby underarms and the saddlebags on the outside of the hip area..... any hope except turning to plastic surgeons!??!! :thumbup:

because 100 lbs loss is in sight and I still have 30 days left until my 1 year mark........yeah!!!!!!!!

I'm April 30th too!! Seems the last two weeks have been really productive in the loss department. Some days I am surprised that the scale has given me a lower number and some days I am surprised that is has NOT given me a lower number!! But for now I am happy with the progress!! Though it is mind boggling to realize that even after 100 lbs - there can still be so much to go!!................. ~Mom~ I currently have 8.5 ccs - and as everyone else has said it does take some getting used to. When I was first filled up to this point, I was uncomfortable for a least a good week or more and considered having some removed....but then I worked through it and now I am at a perfect spot - not too much and not too little - this gives me just enough restriction but doesn't make my life miserable. Unless you have the band - it is kind of hard to comprehend. One thing I did experience after this last fill but a sort of acid reflux - never experienced it with previous fills and was kind of surprised and puzzled by it - the doctor has told me to take Zantac once or twice a day to determine if this stops it - magically one pill - makes it disappear immediately (at least for me) so the last few days I have made sure to take one and now I feel back to normal.......has anyone else experienced this symptom?

Jachut - I would like to make time for more strength training after tax season is over.....what does a typical work out for you consist of? I have been doing a light "arm" work out - trying to get rid of the turkey neck arms of my - seems to be one of the only things that gives a clue of my 90+ weight loss - everything else has firmed up quite nicely. I agree that it takes more discipline and dedication than just hopping on the treadmill and logging the miles. You continue to be an inspiration in every post!! :smile2:

because people are starting to call me "skinny" and "slim" !!!! Music to my ears..........

~Mom~ I would strongly encourage your daughter to turn her focus to exercise, exercise, exercise. It has helped me lose the weight faster than anything else. I was not a HUGE eater but would graze throughout the day and then eat a big dinner at night and go to bed and also fast food was a mainstay for me. Now I honestly don't think about food as a comfort or my friend - only as a means of how to get enough Protein in for the day. When I exercise regularly, I lose. when I don't it slows way down. There has to be some self-imposed discipline and self control to leave the food and go find something else to preoccupy yourself - other wise it is just sabatoge all the time. Quite a role to be both a MOM and weight loss advocate. She has to really want it for herself or it will just be a stagnant experiment. Best of Luck to YOU & YOUR daughter.

Running has been so wonderful for me. I used to run with my Marine husband back in my early 20's and then life got busy and I as I got heavier, I left it all behind....... I always loved running - cannot get on the treadmill and be content walking - Anyway, I started running slowly about 4 weeks after my surgery and now I am running 3-4 miles at a session. I ran 3 miles last night in 35:40 and my last 4 miles was at 47:30 - It has been a tremendous help with the weight loss. I went to see my doctor recently for a fill after about a 3 month lapse and he was amazed at the weight loss and commented to me - "nothing takes off the weight like running." I have to agree. Now I know I am hooked because my body craves it and I make time for it whether early in the morning or late at night........I don't want to miss it. All of my knee problems have disappeared and I am getting stronger every day. I would encourage anyone to just start out slow and work your way up!

Because it is really working!!! :smile:

Way to go Turler - do you feel a lot of restriction now? How interesting to see your insides and watch the liquid go down.. a little strange.......... but whatever brings about the best result!!!

Extra weight and the stigma our society puts on it - really does serve to inhibit us in so many ways. I am always amazed at how much more outgoing my personality becomes when I am at a healthy, "feel-good" weight rather than lethargic and out of energy - so much self-esteem is attached to the whole scenario. I am glad that God loves us despite our shortcomings and does not judge on us the condition of our physical but rather the conditon of our hearts!! I am also enjoying teaching my women's Bible study these days and using some weight loss "endurance" experiences as good examples for all of them (and myself too). I know lots of people are going through hard times now - I wanted to share a thought that I shared with all of my ladies last night: "When I am confused by what I don't know - I rehearse in my mind what I do know." I know that God has promised to bring me through anything or take me out of it when it becomes too much for me to handle......that is a comfort.

DRH - I suggest Muscle Milk. I think it is very good and it is lactose free. They offer a light version that only has 100 calories, no sugar added and 15 grams of protein per carton. It has really been a mainstay for me. I can relate to being too busy - tax season in full swing.....ugh........