Penny45

I do have very frustrating periods of standstill or will bounce up 3-5 pounds. If I think back I can usually trace this to too much salt or just fluid variations, I will retain fluid. I am fixated on the scale but keep a daily notebook with my weight so I can compare last week, last month, etc. I do measurements about every 6 weeks. I have found a little jolt for the standstill, maybe a way to trick your metabolism... it seems that however much u cut your food your body adjusts to hold on to it. So.... I will try to hold the 1200-1500 calories but will sometimes go on up to 2000 or over, then cut it back down to 800 then get back to the 1200 to 1500. Usually within a week I find I've dropped a few pounds. I am tall for a woman so this may be way too many calories for some and not enough for men or other large women. Trying to find what works...I just wish I could have done this sooner. I feel so much better already.

I've had 2 fills, the first 3 cc in June and 1 cc in August. I think I may need another 1-2 cc but it's pretty close to right. I think I can still eat too much "because it's there" but I'm trying to retrain myself that I can save it for later. I am the "go box" queen. Portion sizes are really wayyy too big but u don't feel like u are wasting money if u can eat it 2-3 times. Chicken is the number one food on my list...grilled, baked or fajitas. I have also found the wraps with 90 calories and 8 grams of protein. I don't eat much bread and am usually giving pieces of the wrap to my dogs. As far as a sandwich or burger at least 1 bun's worth will be picked off. Some veggies but I spend most of my food allowance trying to get in the 60 grams of protein. Some junk but just in a smaller portion, the 100 calorie bags are my friend. Fried stuff makes me feel bad, usually diarrhea. I eat yogurt or cottage cheese for breakfast...not a breakfast person at all, really don't want to eat in the mornings much, but u have to. I use the WW or LC meals as backup in case there is nothing I want to fix or there is nothing at work that will work. I try to shut down the food by 6 pm and make myself some decaf if I'm feeling deprived or try to get the rest of the day's fluid in. I try to keep a running calorie count in my head and try to put the brakes on at 1200-1500 calories. Hope this helps....the weight loss is slowing down and it looks like I must make friends with exercise. Surprise....it doesn't hurt as much as it used to and I'm trying to go the gym 2-3 times a week. My exercise is simple at present, 20 minutes on the treadmill and 9 of the machines, 40 reps at whatever weight for that exercise.

Realize band on 3/17...have lost 61-65 pounds depending on whose scale I use. I still have 100 to go but so far have had no complications at all.:tongue: