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Denise, it sounds like YOU are doing GREAT!!! Wow! Your BODY might not be cooperating, but your discipline and eating habits are excellent. In order to run and not be embarrassed, I run in the evening/night. Now it is California and the temperature is best after dark, but even in the "winter" it has worked perfectly for me, although I wouldn't advise going alone. My neighborhood is extremely quiet and conservative, but this year I've started meeting up with friends halfway or bring a family member along. BTW, how do you take a base metabolism test anyway???? I've never heard of it. How do you ask for one? I've not kept up with my exercise log. I run, but forget to change my signature. For August I'm gonna get a ticker and see how that works. I've logged about 50 miles running this month.

Eficka, maybe you need more protein. Maybe you are anemic, or sleep-deprived. Those things make me crave the worst foods because they take no effort. Is anything bothering you that you need to talk out?

Denise, I've used the "EliptiKILL" machine for years. The usual workout was 60 minutes on level 10, PRIOR to being banded. For some reason, it never helped me to lose. The running has changed my body in a much more positive way than the elliptical. But I am not the best example in weight-loss, though. I've been on a plateau for a while and am fighting just to drop each pound. The plan is to drop another 25, or ??? We'll see! Good luck!

Pat, joining in the exercise challenge will be one of the greatest decisions you could make post-band. The accountability is a huge motivator if you are the responsible/don't-let-anyone-down type. Your conscience will MAKE you fo it, even after a 12-hour shift and sore legs. GO for it!!!

Bubble, this is exactly how I have felt for years going to the hairdresser! Sitting in front of that mirror, being forced to look at the finished product and pretend to be happy has been humiliating to me. I found someone who would open privately after hours. It cost a pretty penny, but to me it was worth it. Just recently I went to the salon and felt comfortable for the first time in years. I know this is silly of me, but the idea is similar. Maybe you need a personal trainer for a short time until you are comfortable and confident in what you are doing. You can work together privately. Betty, you are funny! I WISH I looked like Kate Winslet. Maybe there is a similarity, but that is all! Hahaha! (For those wondering, I'm a closet bandster, thus the "ghost" signature) Good time on the 10K, Julie! WTG!! Lisa, a huge welcome from me!

That is beautiful, Becky. Sometimes I feel so ashamed for being ungrateful. This body of mine has afforded me a miraculous life! Let's try to remind each other to focus on the awe and wonder rather than the negative!

Eficka, welcome back! Two pounds can melt off very quickly. (From one chocoholic to anotherm go sugar-free for a bit!) The hiking sounds wonderful. I'm envisioning the Von Trapp family hiking in the mountains of Austria, singing and all. Is it anything like that? It was a gorgeous day here today at the beach in Malibu. The bit of sunburn made running difficult, though. Thanks for all of the insight, everyone.

Julie, I'm sorry, but I am just laughing here over the whole Skittle debacle. All the rationalizations sound like me! The flying with a new boss who you are not sure likes you is a very plausible reason. You are a people-pleaser, right? Makes perfect sense to me why you would buy nine bags of Skittles in rapid succession. The main reason I'm laughing is that they sounded good. Oh well. You'll be fine. That is the difference. We can be honest, grrrr a little, laugh it off and run along on our way again. Hi newcomers to the thread. It is fun reading your posts! Need more sleep so off I go.:notagree

Jacqui, are you talking about the days when you might eat cake and then think, "Oh, now I really have to go to the gym"? Or just counting the calories in, calories out to make sure they match up? I'm asking because it is a fascinating idea to not link the eating and exercise behaviors. If you have time, could you please re-visit that thought? NEW RECORD FOR ME: Ran 6 miles straight (no walking) in 57:44. So I can run a 10K!!! It helped tremendously that I needed to blow off some steam. haha...try it! Today I consumed approx. 850 calories and ran for an hour. And it was not an abnormal day. I better start losing again. Do you think my problem is that I operate on 4.5 hours of sleep a night? (I have this problem where I just don't want to go to sleep, kind of like a little kid not wanting to miss the excitement. That combined with taking on too many work projects and I'm just not resting my body enough. How much sleep do you all need? Eight hours of sleeping is hard to imagine.

Hi TexasBecky! You sound like one of us already! The time that I spend running is a wonderful part of my week. I don't talk or listen to music. Instead, it is a time to let my mind wander and go wherever it wants to. Many problems have been analyzed, plans have been made, artistic endeavors visualized, wise words (from my friends here at LBT) have been contemplated, and blessings have been counted. It not only clears my mind of unfinished business and give opportunity to reflect, but also makes me feel powerful and proactive. Instead of feeling like a victim to my uncontrollable weight gain, I have faith and hope in my ability to choose. All of these things bring me a brighter mood. There are also endorphins that are released. Though I have always exercised, it became less consistent as I put on weight. The way I have succeeded is through an exercise challenge thread that was started for those banded in the same month. The accountability and iprogressive ncrease in time and difficulty was what I needed. That is how I came to know Julie and Betty, and a few others here. We challenged each other and ourselves. Instinctively, I built a program for myself very similar to the couch potato to runner method. Julie used that and it is how she has become a strong runner. I totally recommend starting one for yourself!

Oh, it WAS Jachut! Those ideas now "run" through my head often. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated!

Moe661, I can sure relate to that. The original "if only I could get down to ..." has morphed into a desire to be lean and fit. Julie, I am 5'6". And to be honest, my weight was at 160 for one day in May, and then the weight started climbing up to 166. So now it took me some time to get back to 161. Like Betty, I leave the ticker alone, unless I LOSE! While my weight looks normal, I delivered my babies in the 160's. My natural frame is a skinny girl with curves. Changing up the diet is a good idea. I have depleted myself, though by not eating enough. The times I lose now are when I drink Protein shakes for two meals. What's up with that?? NSV: Pulled out an old short and tight-fitting skirt just "to see" what it would take to squeeze in. Eyeballing it I thought there was no way to get it over my hips. But it slid right up and zipped with no effort. When I looked in the mirror and turned around, there it was...a huge sagging rear of fabric! HAHAHA! The skirt is now in my "FAT CLOTHES" PILE. cAN YOU BELIEVE IT? And someone mentioned how their body felt when running (I'll find that post, cause I loved it so much). Well, I love how I feel, but also I love to see my shadow. I run in the evening, and my shadow looks really pretty, especially compared to the old one. Oh yeah, and Julie, "WONKY" is one of my favorite adjectives! I laugh every time I say or hear it. haha Have a great week everyone! Good to hear from Jacqui and the newcomers!

Julie! I just noticed your ticker!!!!!! WOOHOO!!! I'm looking for some of those dancing bananas that you love so much.... :Banane10::Banane09::Banane43::banana :Banane10::Banane09::Banane43::banana Remember that I predicted you would pass me up? Well, I'm still jogging here at 160, so run fast and you'll pass me very soon!!!

No, it was for Gibson. I don't want her to be discouraged prior to being banded. Yeah, there is so much to learn and to deal with, but it is awesome to have this new life!

Oh yeah, and a huge welcome to Chickie, Ms. Gibson and Banannie!

FYI: While life may not be perfect, it is WAY better than it was prior to the band and subsequent weight loss. We may be over the "honeymoon" phase, but I still feel thankful every day for this change in my life. Although tonight, I was eyeing the dishes around me that I couldn't dare eat. Odd for me, but once in a while I wish I could take a day off to try those unfriendly band foods. Betty, are you on liquids? You might need to be after this last episode. Sometimes it can take 2-3 days to ease up and heal. Also, beware of anything really hot (coffee), spicy or acidic. My doctor says to take mylanta or pepto bismal(?) from time to time. It does help. Audree, your picture is adorable and I am thrilled you've done so well. Julie, if you are at all like me, weight and food issues have dominated your thoughts since you were a little girl. It seems this forum allows us to voice some of those fears and issues and actually get supportive, positive, and understanding answers, instead of self-loathing. It sounds like Chickie's goals are similar to yours. If I have learned anything about you over this past year, it is that you are extremely goal-oriented AND you accomplish what you set out to do. While we are in this losing phase, we really do have to focus and train ourselves to change our habits. Don't you think that eventually we can balance our lives with fulfilling social, spiritual, artistic and intellectual activities that replace the constant focus on the physical? I do! Already I choose the theatre over dinner, friends over food, church over chocolate...(well, I'm still working on the chocolate;)) But I see this forum (our little group) as a tremendous blessing!

Wow...We should all read the book.

SheSmiles, I don't think that is off-topic in any way. The sags and realization that we may have permanently damaged our largest organ (skin) is a huge reality for all of us. I am just doing everything in my power to improve the health of my other organs and soul! The spanx gives great support! Julie talked me into trying it for the muffin top that was spilling out over my low rise jeans. I never understood that it could really help my skin. As far as the boobs go, I bind them up with three different kinds of bras when I run. (I just don't need any more damage!) While I fantasize over a TT, getting a lift might be harder for me. I'm scared that my boobs would be all perky and then I would just ruin them by running. Recently I have been bruising on my legs. Could that be from running? I am kind of clumsy, but don't notice bumping into things. Hmmm... Ran home from a party/fireworks show instead of riding in the car. It was a blast! Heading out now to get in a few more for the endurance work.

By the way, THIN is relative in some ways!! So if you are wanting to join in, but don't think you are THIN enough, please hop on this thread! It is not exclusive! We are all on this track to health together and ALL need support! Cheers!

WASaBB, I LOVE your little beach chair ticker. That is so cute for July. I think the exercise ticker is a good idea for me, since I haven't been able to move my weight ticker for a month (plateau.) I can relate to EVERYTHING, distorted body image (looking fat one day, hot the next), not wanting to face ANYTHING emotional, not eating to the point of messing up the metabolism, expecting a perfect body after weight-loss, setting upcoming birthday goals......I thought that my life would be fine if I just LOST THE WEIGHT! I'm starting to see things differently. It is a process, isn't it? Major respect to you hard core exercisers! I used to get in 15 miles in my younger days but now running 4-5 in my 40's seems like hard core! Especially since a year ago I didn't even think I could run. Now my incentive has just shot higher! Thanks. Happy 4th of July!!! :usa2::usa2::usa2::usa2::usa2::usa2: And one for Dawn :canada:

Sometimes I feel like Cinderella, just waiting for the clock to strike midnight, snapping my band and turning my body back into a pumpkin. In this thread, I will gladly join in on discussions and lend support. My main contribution will be to keep us all moving! The benefits of daily, cardiovascular workouts are too great to ignore. SO, I vote we set our exercise challenges each month. My July goal is to run farther and faster to prepare for a 5K and 10K. I'm keeping a minimum goal of 45 minutes of running/cardio work per day, for at least 20 days this month. Over the course of this month, I hope to log over 85 miles. While I am SO focused on my fitness and weight-loss goals, it leaves less opportunity to dwell on my emotional/self-doubt issues (which I prefer to avoid confronting.) In order to truly heal, though, I know that I must learn to embrace myself.

Betty, Betty, Betty...I hope you are doing better and that nothing serious is wrong. Twice I have had major issues and the unfill easily did the trick. It is alarming that our stomachs bleed so easily. Whenever I have pain from eating something too spicy or acidic or too fast, etc., I'm worried that my stomach is being damaged. Pain means something is wrong! So, please heal quickly and enjoy your new body. It is not worth it to be TOO tight! We do need to eat and drink to stay alive. Julie, you are wonderful! I'll go to the link now. Because I'm a little "blond," it took me a minute or so to figure out what "passing for thin" meant. (Oh, she means running and passing everybody in a race....er, no...uh, maybe she means getting thin quicker? passing out from hunger or dehydration? er, no...Je ne sais pas!! OH, I get it!! The outside/inside connection...hahaha! Cool! Uh, oh...that better be right!) Happy 4th everyone!!

Julie, I really like the idea of having a thread devoted to the "final stretch" for those of us that have been banded over a year and are re-evaluating our goals. At the time of banding, having a BMI under 26 seemed like an impossible feat. Now my goals have changed and are intensified. There are challenges that I would like to address in a final stretch to a new life thread. In addition to setting challenges and having regular discussions regarding exercise, plateaus and eating habits, etc., I would like to share ideas on dealing with emotional triggers, self-image issues, and ANYTHING that we encounter along the way. If this is a non-exclusive thread, then we can thrive with loads of ideas and support. If our thread has ONE title it will be easier to find. We don't need to change it each month because we can just change our tickers! Julie, you are the most inspirational person on this forum and have set a great example to all. You are eloquent (per Betty's description), poised, and completely supportive of all. I vote that this be your thread. We need something for the long term that is constant and that can be re-visited easily. I think that you are the person to lead the way. I like to be supportive and to also step up the challenge to reach new heights. Between Betty, Dawn, Eva, and myself (and anyone else in our April group), we can cover for you during future PS or difficult cases you are covering. But I really think it should come back to you. What does everyone think? (Betty, it looks like I will be in Portland on August 5th. Or we can meet another day in Seattle or Centralia?)

I didn't realize that a change was coming. What does everyone want to do?? I am TOTALLY "hooked" on the exercise challenge, and the association I have with all of you. You all inspire me everyday! Do we open up our thread to being an exercise focussed thread, or a goal setting thread, or...?

Eva, dancing all night is excellent! You can certainly count that as a workout!! Julie, it makes me nervous to fast-forward ten years. Maybe the Cinderella in me thinks I'll suddenly poof into a big pumpkin. Exercise has been a huge part of my life for many years, even at my highest weight. Running was NOT part of my routine, though! I am thrilled with the progress I've made. Not only can I run four miles without stopping, I like it and want to run more! So I surely expect to be healthy and working toward new goals. I miss Kat, too. What is going on? Did anyone ever reach Bluehill? How is Susan? I hope Roberta is doing better. She brought me to this group, so I am extra grateful to her. Amourette is still checking in, which is great. I feel like Eva, thankful for the understanding and support that has developed through our mutual challenges!