Great2BThin

Guess who is still in first place at the Weight Loss challenge?? Folks can weigh in til 9pm, there are 40 people in it, however, as of 230 only 6 have weighed in. I think folks have given up, etc. However, my biggest 2 competitors weighed in while I was there. I hadn't weighed yet. Oh the stress of not knowing. One guy (the closest to me) lost big and I figured his percentage and he was at 13.6% lost (I was at 11.40% before today). Could I do it? Well after Joye finished weighing in the boys, I ran in the restroom and changed into my weigh in clothes (it was 16 below zero when I went to work this morning I had way to many layers to weigh in). I put on my lightest capris and tshirt and even took off the socks. Stepped on the scale.....OMG!! 7 LBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That gave me 37 lbs lost for the challenge and 14.6%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I beat him by 1% only but it's enough. So I am at 14.6, he's at 13.6 and the other guy is at 12.6, very tight. So unless some bigloser comes in tonight, I should be the winner. I should find out sometime tomorrow. For the challenge you didn't have to do weekly weigh ins, you could just weigh the first and last week if you wanted to, but I would think if you were doing good, you'd go in for the weekly weigh ins and prizes. That's my hope anyway. Oh and that loss on my home scale takes me to a total of 92 lbs. but I will see what the scale says on Thurs. before I change my ticker to see if any of it comes back (fluid retention after no more water pills). And to make my day even better, went shopping to Bass Pro Shops for hubby's Christmas present. Well I did a little looking for me. Who knew? But they have some pretty decently prized jeans and I liked them, tried them on and VOILA!! 14's!!!!! Of course, I bought them. I am sitting here wrapped my my blankie. It's so friggin' cold! We got -18 last night, broke some 1901 record. The high today is about 3 but wind chill is -12. It's DH's birthday today and we are going to Texas Roadhouse for dinner, it will be so cold coming out tonight. He loves Italian but I don't and really don't want pasta. Would've done it, but my daughter is having so many gastrointestinal issues and on a restricted diet til she she's the gastroentrologist on Fri. and she for sure can't have pasta, etc. so Option #2 was steak. Works for me!

Finally broke my almost 3 week plateau with 3 lbs. I MADE MY GOAL FOR THIS CHALLENGE!! Also, this loss makes me at 90 lbs total!! Woo Hoo, come on 100!! Name_________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal________ToGo *****<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = V /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">:cool2:</v:shapetype>************************:tt2:**********:frown:****** * agreatknead........204............187...........180............7 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......253............204...........195............9 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............200...........191...........9 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Bunkey1965.........194............167...........170...........(-3) Cadets71...........223.4..........220.4.........189...........31.4 Charlietuna........210............167...........150...........17 Claudine...........250............231...........225............6 CubsGirl17.........172............150...........150............0 Cutiew/booty.......251............226...........220............6 cQQlgirl...........195............185...........180............5 crzytchr...........276............254...........246............8 Donna113...........199............184...........160...........24 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............216...........190...........26 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............143...........130...........13 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 janesays ..........244............232...........225............7 jazzyywan..........239............239...........190...........49 Jeni85.............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235............203.5.........185...........18.5 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 judy1023...........231............231...........199...........32 klmsilva...........216............212...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............231...........200...........31 Lindar172.............257.8.....................245.2...............24 0...................5.2 Liquidbluegal......225............214.6.........199...........15.6 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 Long2BThin.........253............215...........215............0 lotzasunshine......292............272.5.........250...........22.5 Luu2008............230............199.5.........153...........46.5 Lunabeane..........244............197...........187...........10.0 Mamanmidwife.......295............268...........260............8 Melissa Aguirre ...266............233...........160...........73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? Minxz..............299............287...........270...........17 neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 newby23............242............242...........212...........30 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............238...........220...........18 rainer.............236............222...........210...........12 Redtulips3.........180............175...........160...........15 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............179...........165...........14 srknepler..........285............249.2.........255..........(5.7) squale.............353............353...........325...........28 SueAZ..............198............193...........150...........43 Sunshine2..........177............167...........160...........07 Suzzzie............305............305...........285...........20 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............224...........215...........6 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 Turler.............219............203...........194............9 youcandoit!........196............182...........165...........17 bjbstoney..........321............153...........140...........13

Interesting, because they were the first thing I was allowed on mushies. It's odd how different foods affect different folks differently. Laney, sounds like you are too tight, though bread and tortillas don't agree with many folks. But you need to get in the hard proteins in meats. Are you taking small bites? chewing chewing and chewing some more? I'll have days where I am tighter than others and different foods will bother me that don't bother me on other days.

Becky and Apples, your weather sounds downright tropical! :tongue2: Sitting here at 14 BELOW ZERO currently and it's only 6pm. We had a high of 60 yesterday and todays high was about 3 above. One more degree and we break the record low. When I went to bed last night it was 45 and got super windy abuot 11pm and woke up to 3 below. Amazing it can change like that. And that doesn't include the wind chill with that they said it was much colder. I hate to see my gas bill this month. I am so cold and the furnace won't shut off. And I have a new home that's super insulated.

My starting BMI was about 44, I am down 90 lbs, total of 66% of my excess body weight and 6 mos out from surgery. Statistics are just averages. And averages include all types of folks, they don't account for those that don't follow the rules, think the band will do all the work for them, etc. I intend to be 'above average'! :tongue2:

Bummer Alli! I know how bad you want it, I do too. I on the otherhand did hit 90 1/2 this morning!! I was thrilled, but am afraid to get too thrilled. The reason being, I am in a biggest Loser competition at the rec center. I am in first place, Prize is $700. Well I decided to pull out all the stops. I was feeling puffy and do have an RX for a diuretic to take when I get puffy and when I had high b/p. I took one yesterday morning and was down 4.5 today. I am afraid to count it officially as it may come back. I just hope it doesn't before tomorrow's weigh in. I can't imagine how the biggest loser contestants are feeling, my prize is only $700 and they are competing for much much more. Maybe I'll wait a day or two and see what the scale says then.

Good afternoon. Well the 'Artic Blast' arrived in the night. Yesterday we had 60 degrees, at the bday party we had no coats and some were out on the patio. Today it is currently -3 outside. BRRRRRR We got 3 inches of snow overnight as well. It never ceases to amaze me in Colorado how quick the weather can change. As everyone here knows I am in that weight loss competition and the final weigh in is tomorrow. I can just imagine how the finalists on the Biggest Loser TV show are feeling. Here my prize is $700 and I am nervous as heck, they are competing for a quarter million before a national audience. I did take my diuretic yesterday and was down 4 lbs this morning!! YAHOO!!! I hope it's enough. I knew I was feeling puffy but was amazed at how much. I'd love it if I got another pound or two tomorrow but am happy with the 4 if it holds. It put me at 90 1/2 lbs lost total. But I am not sure if I should count it 'officially' for my ticker and stuff here because it was with the aid of a water pill. Think I will weigh on Thurs. and take what it says that day (surgery day was a Thurs. and when I am being good and staying off the scale I weigh on Thurs. and Mon.). Wish me luck tomorrow!

Another 'twin thing'. I too had to self pay, but not as much as you but close. Anyway I think that has helped motivate me. I also thought I was going to be that one person that the band wouldn't work for. Keep up the good work!

Woo Hoo!!! Wait for me to catch you!! (just joking) CONGRATS!! But keep that 90 door open for me when you get there. I had a goal of hitting 100 by Valentines. I think I can do it! But with this plateau I don't know.

I had a similar thing happen to me 2 evenings before my Lap Band surgery at a support group. They were all bypass patients except for one band and me (this group has now flip flopped and is mostly band). They all started going on about how the bypass was better, blah blah blah. I left really 2nd guessing my choice. The next morning I had my pre op appt with my surgeon. He asked if I had attended any of his support groups, I replied as a matter of fact I have and told him what happened. He wasn't happy and asked me to write it all out in an email to him. By golly the next month I got so many apologies. He said both procedures are equally good. If he didn't believe in the band he wouldn't be offering it and as a matter of fact was helping his sister get one. We came to the conclusion that folks have their definite bias for the procedure that they chose. I definitely have a band bias, but would never bash the bypass to a bypass person, it's just that the band was the better choice for me for my circumstances. And now that there is a Lap Band and a Realize band, I see just as many biases regarding which type of band. Personally I am biased towards the Lap Band but maybe that's because it's the one I have. but believe the Realize band is a good choice as well. Hope that makes sense. I've known 2 people who have gotten bypasses and have regained LOTS of weight back. That was one of my reasons for choosing the band. They stretched out their pouch and there's nothing they can do about it. I can keep restriction but staying current on my fills. Probably had I heard the negative talk about the bypass any other time than 2 nights before my surgery when I already had the jitters, I would've thought nothing about it, but right before my surgery I did freak out a bit.

Good morning. Plan for today is go to SIL's for a Dec. birthday party. My MIL was busy in Decembers (well maybe Marchs LOL). BIL is 50 today, so hubby and BIL are both the same age for 2 days and on Monday DH turns 51. Then SIL's bday is the 19th. Also, have a niece with a bday on the 17th. WHEW!! We have a beautiful day out, temp is almost 60 and tomorrow the high is supposed to be about 17 and low of 1. BRRRR what a drastic change. They say we are getting an 'artic blast'. Also, snow coming. So better enjoy today. I took my first diuretic this morning in prep for the big weigh in for $700 on Monday. Hope it's not too early, may take another tomorrow. I think all I really need to do is lose just a couple to maintain my lead. For the others to catch me they would then have to have huge losses. I'm just not sure this time of year if they will at least I am hoping. Also, I will take the lightest weight clothes I can find to change into to weigh in. I am for sure not weighing in the jeans and sweater I wear at work there. And will make sure not to weigh anyone in myself and will have the other gal do it. Don't want there to be anyone questioning the results if I do win.

Lizalee, Hope you get internet worked out soon and are back online soon. I can't imagine going too long w/o the support here. Well the first week of the new job went well. It's a little slow and boring and I gotta get used to these early hours. I feel silly for feeling so tired. And they sprang on us yesterday that come Jan. they are going to open at 530... YAWN! :wink2: I'll be getting up at 415 or so. I worked out every day when I got off so that is a good thing. I almost talked myself out of it today as I was tired, foot hurts, knee hurts. Felt I 'deserved' a day off for being so faithful etc. But nope I did it. Just did mostly cardio. I know not to do weights every day on the same muscles. So I need to workout a routine where I do lower body one day and upper the next. I tend to do it all in one day.

I'd be very worried if I had to drink coffee in the morning. Personally can't stand the stuff. But I do drink a lot of Water. But will take small sips if need be before weighing. With that definition of introvert that fits me too. Fits DH pretty good too. He's much more gifted than me though. :wink: Well I gotta hit the sack. This 445am alarm is killing me. Hopefully I'll get used to it. OH and today they sprang it on us, come JAn. they will start opening at 530am meaning we will start a half hour earlier. :ohmy:

Well I sure hope so. I really don't understand why it wouldn't. I am 50 exactly, and was banded 6 mos ago and am already down 86 lbs. So I'm optimistic. And no I don't exercise super intensely. I do exercise, I can't run like Jachut with my knee pain (looking at a replacement maybe next year) but I do the elliptical, recumbant bike and I do weights. I think whether or not it's possible depends on the patient and how willing they are to follow the 'bandster rules'. The band works only as good as you work the tool.

My weigh in on Monday is anytime between 6am and 9pm, but since I have to be there for work at 6am I will probably weigh then. Though am contemplating waiting til I leave at 830 as long as I can go that long w/o drinking anything. Also gotta wear something light and I wear jeans while working, so I'll have to change into a weigh in outfit. Too bad the scale is in the lobby, so I can't strip down. :wink:

Apples, what is your 'side business'??? was that your 'real job'? My husband would love to farm. He loves to go back to the farm in SD. His brother inherited his grandparents home place but most of the land around it went to his aunts, they want to sell, he can't afford to buy it all so it's getting all parcelled out. Charlene, Never heard of ChexMix called Texas Trash, I have heard of one kind called Puppy Chow though. I've never been a fine of any kind of Chex Mix though. Hope things calm down for you and also for Ellen. You two have a lot of stress around you. I am meeting a gal for lunch (ZippyKat) whom I originally met on LBT, we've met in person many times now. We meet tomorrow, she is finishing up a 5 day pouch test, will ask her about it. I know I am stressing about the plateau but I think it has more to do with the timing of it and this contest. I know the scale will move again eventually, I know I am doing everything right so it has to. What I don't know is if I am going to retain first place at the Weigh In. Janet, didn't think of the laxative. HMMMMMM Can't decide when to take my diuretic to give me optimal weigh in results. Do I take it Sat. or Sun?? Decisions, decisions. Think I'll have salmon this weekend too, that always jumpstarts me it seems.

is this the volunteer job where you schedule the volunteers? That would be tough. I don't get too involved with the volunteers at the hospital where I volunteer at. I just have to go in the volunteer office to check in, get my parking validation then all my time is spent in the bariatric office. However, from chatter I hear in there, they all have their definite likes and dislikes of what they will and won't do. We get free valet parking and a free lunch on days we volunteer, do you get that? The other bariatric volunteer and I were joking on the phone yesterday (she couldnt' come in yesterday) that we'd 'do lunch' next week. For cafeteria food it's not bad either. Thanks Janet for the encouraging words about my weight loss stall. I know in time the scale has to move again. I guess I am feeling pressured because of the Biggest Loser challenge I am in at the rec center. Currently I am in first place by 1%. Our final weigh in is Monday. There is $700 in the pot and it's winner take all. So I want the scale to move by Monday! I feel a little puffy so may take one of my Water pills this week if it doesn't dissapate by then. Maybe that will give me a little shove in the right direction on the scale. I used to take them daily for my b/p but since it's normal now I don't take them so often. So is it too much to ask for the scale to move by then? That would buy a lot of new clothes!

I'm glad the volunteering at the hospital is so rewarding since it's volunteer and no pay. But I'd love to work in a real job for the bariatric program too! Since we've been 'twins' in this losing banded life, have you hit any of these stalls? I got so spoiled with the losses that I am freaking out now. I am in a Biggest Loser weight loss challenge at the rec center and am in first place. the final weigh in is on Monday and I am only in 1st place by 1%, I want to drop some so bad. It's winner take all and the pot is about $700!! I'm doing nothing different than I've been doing really. I just got a fill last week so if anything am eating a little less. I am working out 4 days a week, etc, etc, etc. Oh and did I tell ya, I am not a patient person???

Wow Donna, you are doing great, you seem to be posting a loss almost every day. congrats! I was but have hit a stall evidently. I've not had a loss in almost 3 weeks but was losing really rapidly before that. I thought for sure I'd meet this goal and exceed it with only 3 lbs to meet the goal I set for this challenge. I think still will but I hope I start losing again soon! Is 160 really your goal for this challenge? or is that your overall goal?

Hey Barb, welcome! I was banded in June too, on the 5th, by Dr. Snyder. Doing great. I am so thrilled with it and so glad I did this for myself.

My what a busy day today was. First off was my 2nd day at the 'mini job' and then went straight from there to my volunteer day at the hospital. That was very fun and rewarding today. Usually when I go, I do go visit patients in the hospital that had surgery, it's usually bypass as the banders go home right away. today they had a gal that went in for bypass but had complications and couldn't get the surgery. However, they could do a band so she was going back in late this afternoon or early evening for a band. She was real nervous and hadn't researched it much as she was going for the bypass. So since I was there, they asked me to go talk to her. I walked in and introduced myself, she asked me to sit down and I visited with her for over half an hour answering questions, etc. It was so rewarding to be able to do that and think that I might have made a difference. I also did lots of copying, phone calling and general stuff like that but it was fun. I ran into my surgeon in the hospital between surgeries and he said hi, said I was looking great and asked what I was down to now. I told him I hit my first plateau as I hadn't lost in 3 weeks almost. He said that wasn't a plateau but a 'mini break' and was sure I'd be losing again. He considers a plateau after 6 weeks. I sure hope I lose by then! I think my body is just resting and playing catch up with the losses I've had and needs to regroup before shedding some more. I didn't even lose after my fill last week. I'm not doing any holiday baking this year so that won't tempt me. We have a big gathering at our home for all of DH's family and I think that will be my time to give myself permission to indulge a little.

Cathy, what a dirty thing for your ex to go and run off with your best friend and for her too. You are a beautiful woman judging by your photo and if you want another relationship any guy would be lucky to have you! Who knows you may opt for that oven!! I just got back from my volunteering at the hospital. It was a very rewarding day. They had a patient in the hospital who went in for Bypass yesterday, but they couldn't do it so she is having a LapBand today. They asked me to go see her since she was nervous about it and had only researched bypass. So I did, the lady asked me to sit down and we discussed it for quite some time. I was able to answer a lot of her questions, etc. It just felt so good to know I made a difference. Scale still seems to be stuck. On Sat. it will be 3 weeks since I had a loss. GRRRRR This is the first this has happened to me, I have been really spoiled by the scale since surgery and I'm not liking it! I even had a new fill last week.

Ellen!!! I miss you around these parts, you've become scarce. I know you have a lot on your plate (no pun intended) right now. Are you finding some time for yourself? Have you talked to our friend lately? Got a correct email for her if you did?? Looks like you are doing well on the weight loss.

IMHO as well. It's probably why I can't find the perfect job again. Hard to top that one. It was so much fun, though the pay there was pitiful as well but the discount, Oh my!! And the employee sales and events...... Guess if the economy keeps heading south or DH gets laid off, I'll have to stop being so picky and just get a job. :tt1:

That's what I figure. The pay is pittance, but I look at it as though I am getting paid to work out. Just have to go a little earlier and I am committed to be there to open the place up in the morning so can't roll over and go back to sleep. And I still have all day off to do as I want, though I always have my eye out for that 'perfect' job.