Boo

Thanks, Roberta. I appreciate it! I have asthma, also, but it hasn't caused me any problems in the last 8 months. I won't be doing much any time soon. I have to go to work, but try to lay low after. I'm hoping I'll get well with enough time to complete the challenge.

I can't workout! I have bronchitis....:sick Keep it up, everyone!!

Write to Siestaqh!!

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/238/150 - 25 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/170/132 - 38 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/128/110 - 52 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/185/134 - 49 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/252/180 - 106 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/184/135 - 55 total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/196/145 - 21.5 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/207/140 - 35 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/209/180 -75 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-18: LapBandit - 392/369/347/336/324/308/298/278 - 114 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/188/130 - 32 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/236/156 - 52 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/216/150 - 57 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/104/69 - 21 kgs/46.2 lbs. total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/220/170 - 50.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/219/165 - 70 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/225/160 - 37 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/194/145 - 70 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/267/241.4/140 - 41.6 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/253/145 - 80 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/170/135 - 55 total 4-28: MomofSixKids - 240/238/205/150 - 35 total<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

By the way... the "couch to 5K" plan is EXACTLY how I trained myself. It works.

Roberta, Amourette, Bluehill...how are you doing? Friends: Since I am a "closet" bandster, I don't post a picture or give my name. (Boo really IS my nickname, though) Anyway, when I figure out how to put up a picture, I'm gonna send y'all an e-mail so you know who you're talking too.

I ran a 5K today! Actually, I was told the course was 3.2 miles. (That I understood.) My time was 33:20. Thank you, friends!! Your struggles, accomplishments, and encouraging words have urged me on and helped me to do this. Had I not joined this group, I would still be on the couch! I haven't read the "couch potato" thread, but this is proof that it can be done. It will be even easier as the pounds continue to drop. Ohhh, I FORGOT! The funny part is that when I crossed the finish line and they called out my time, I wanted to stop and lay down, but realized I had to keep going another 2 MINUTES to meet OUR CHALLENGE! haha JULIE: Could you just miss ONE day, so I can catch up with you?? Also, I need to add abdominal work. I hate crunches, but my belly needs them.

Last night I ran like the wind on the last mile!! It was great! I am thinking of changing my goal to 142, with a long-term goal of 132 (depending on how I look and feel.) I think my body will be different on the way down than it was on the way up because of the running. What do you think? I took out my journal from the surgery. I had set goals for myself that were probably conservative, but attainable. For the 7 month goal, I had set 172#. It is EXACTLY what I weighed. In fact, the other goals were also met, even though I didn't look at them. We CAN accomplish whatever we put in our minds to do!! SO, I want to be in the 160's for Thanksgiving, and close to the 150's for New Year's!! Susan: I hope you are doing well!! We gotta keep posting through the holidays to keep us on track AND to make it easy to find our thread!

Your story sounds exactly like mine...except that my insurance would not cover it and no doctor would talk to me with a BMI below 35. I needed to gain weight to be a candidate. That is why I went to Mexico as a self-paying patient. I chose this procedure to prevent me from becoming morbidly obese. In the process, I have found my life again. I don't have to live in fear of food (except for PB's) or of the scale. It is a great invention!

That is SO totally cool!! haha Let's go for it... NY or LA is great for me! My feet might be getting fast, but the weight is moving like a slug. It IS moving, though! Now I am 39 pounds to goal!

Just kidding!

Were you banded in Mexico?

Read the labels of everything you have eaten. You can develop a food allergy at any time of life.

Dear Kat: You have a HUGE heart, and I hope that you will be blessed with the strength to make a beautiful day for all of your loved ones and for yourself! Julie: I have found that I just can't eat out. (bummer!) I seem to always have problems, except for a few standbys. The food just gets stuck, or has too much fat. Also, I have a better idea of what I am eating if I bring my own food to work. And Julie, I think you are going to make it to my goal before I do!! Mark my words! Ran 3 1/2 miles tonight at a FASTER pace! I signed up to run a 5K!!!

Oh yeah...And Kathy's suggestion of sipping aloe vera juice is great. Her advice helped me immensely!

Laura, I am so sorry! That is a miserable way to lose weight! I had the same problem in the summer, so I went back to TJ and had a larger unfill than what the doctor thought I needed. It still seems that some days are tighter if my morning medication doesn't go down just right, or if I drink or eat too fast, or too early, and I am only filled to 1.4 cc! If things don't improve drastically, why not get a radical unfill until you are healed? You are almost at goal weight, anyway (AWESOME!!!)

November is a time for gratitude. What or who are you thankful for?

Thanks, Devana! I will check there. And Eric, that is great that you are a five-year veteran! I hope longevity will be with my band, also.

Kat: For the life of me, I can't figure out why any sane person would expect you to host a Thanksgiving feast this year. I don't mean to stir up trouble within your family, but how could anyone want to impose on you that way? Your husband is still recuperating! And so are you. Haven't you been through enough? Is there a way to (kindly) request that someone else host? Or suggest a buffet at a hotel? Surely your relatives must have some empathy. You must be the kind of woman that gives to everyone, all of the time. Others begin to expect it. Sometimes we have to let them know that it is too much. Please take care of yourself, so that you can care for your DH and family! Julie: Paris sounds like a wonderful trip. You can do isometrics and little stretches on the plane. I am SO THANKFUL for how my life has changed since my surgery. There is no longer a constant fear or obsession over food and weight. That frees my mind and body to begin enjoying the simple things in life again. I am grateful I don't need to go on a "diet" during the holidays to avoid gaining weight. I AM stuck on a plateau, but normally I GAIN this time of year. And it will have to budge soon, if I continue to be stubborn about exercising. Keep it up, everyone!!

Betty, you and Kat are inspirations as well!! It is so hard to keep up an exercise routine with the slightest change in the schedule. Yet here you are both kicking it! That gives me no excuse to miss a day. Well wishes to your family members, and keep it up! Julie: That is just AMAZING that you have lost sooo much since April! It is not a dream, it is real! And it is going to get even better. WTG!! Susan: Is that a new picture? You even look thinner in this pic! Does anyone have any good ideas about handling the big Thanksgiving feast? I thought I would take my family on a hike to appreciate the beauty of the earth, to talk and laugh, to exercise together, and to enjoy an activity before dinner. Definitely, exercise will be part of my day. I'm just not sure what will go down easily and how to eat. I'll figure it out, though! :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry:

Just checking in! Today I hiked/jogged uphill for 2 miles, then ran down the whole way. It feels good, but I am anxious to lose more so my knees and ankles will have a lighter load. Julie: That jog in Central Park is very fun. Just make sure you are going at a safe time of day. Also, try layering your bras. I wear three now, one is under the jog bra and one is on top of it. Love hearing about raking leaves and walks with grandkids!

You take care! There is an end of this infection in sight! Finally, you will soon be out of pain and start to feel normal again. Take it easy and heal!

I forgot. Make sure you use all of those stairs instead of the elevators. We went on a cruise pre-band. Although we ate whenever we wanted, with all of the walking around the ship, climbing stairs and sightseeing, everyone in the family LOST weight.

I TOTALLY agree on keeping November's challenge at completing seventeen 35-minute workouts. This time of year gets crazy with fighting colds and allergies. I have to get in one more workout tomorrow...trick or treating door-to-door??? Thanks for the encouragement!!!! I really appreciate the personal notes regarding my stubborn weight. The scale weigh-in is an emotional event and always has been! I did lose ONE pound this month. But I receive compliments everyday! It seems that the running has changed my appearance enough to create a drastic reaction from friends and co-workers. Also, I didn't realize that I needed to buy clothes two sizes smaller. Wearing clothing that is too big really disguises the body. Betty, I will pray for you, your son, and family. We never stop being the momma, and our kids never stop needing us. Hey, JULIE!! YOU ARE RUNNING!!!! That is EXACTLY how I started, but could only run 1 minute before walking a bit. The knees and ankles will hurt if you overdo it. Won't it be a blast when we are all so light that running is a total pleasure? ALL of my exercise BUDDIES: You are a tremendous support. I wish we could all meet. There have been evenings that I am tired and want to watch TV. Knowing that I am accountable and have to report to thr group really helps. And knowing that you are all working so hard with such positive attitudes is the perfect motivation for me!!! November is a month of GRATITUDE. When I workout this next month, I am going to try to focus on all of the wonderful blessings in my life. Good luck to everyone!

WOW!!! That is AMAZING! Good work! :wow2: :wow2: :wow2: :wow2: :wow2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: