Boo

It is nice to read a post and get inspired! Ugh! :biggrin: My allergies have been so out of control that the drainage was clogging up my band and irritating my stomach. A complete unfill has been the only option. How quickly has my gratitude and celebration crumbled as I have fought to keep the weight from piling back on (15 pounds!!) the last month or so. The big hope now is that I can be filled again. 1.0 cc was all I could handle the past year. That level does not give great restriction, but was manageable. Now I am just hoping for anything to keep my stomach from grumbling. The band has been a great tool and reminder of when to stop. The maintenance benefits alone are worth it. I just have to find some medication that will work! Thanks, y'all!

Hi Susan! Hi everybody!! Well, I have been on a doctor-ordered rest from running, which has driven me crazy...except for the fact that much of my pain has subsided. The problem is that I have not figured out how to eat appropriately during a less active phase. It is nuts! So I ran two miles. Light exercise just does not satisfy my aggressive needs. It does nothing to curb my appetite or lift my mood. I need to sweat and push myself past the point of comfort, to reach new levels. I need some competition. Nearly two years ago I celebrated a miracle at the completion of a two mile run. Now I feel like a failure for being cautious. Exercise cannot be an all or nothing activity, but it feels like it should be to get the benefits. How is everybody doing??

Where did we all go? So sorry that I have dropped out of sight. I'm busy with a show, but am going to try an reconnect here more. Keep it up! You all inspire me.

Hey, losingjusme, GREAT RUN!! Your distance is increasing pretty quickly. Julie, remember when I predicted about 18 months ago that you would get to my goal before I would? Well? Haha! I was right! Betty, I hope you had a nice time with your family Dawn...wow, I hope the TT works out. I am very envious, but a coward. Susan, I love hearing from you! It brings back good memories of the beginnings of our banded group. Since I have slowed down, I feel like I'm starting over. Next week I begin rehearsals for a show. I'll be dancing (more like singing with choreography)!! Great motivation to lose weight, considering one of the costumes is YELLOW...yikes!

Wow, Trae, that is something I have never attempted...the gym at 4:30 in the morning!?!

Wow, Julie!! That is tremendous! You are actually at my goal, too. How cool to meet your goal on your bandiversary. I'm just so proud of all of us!!!!!!

Hi Everybody!! First of all, Dawn, that is just super-amazing! Keeping to a rigorous training schedule with little kids and a demanding job is more than I can comprehend. Go for it!! The BIG news is that Julie an I met up for yummy Thai food in NYC! (Thanks, Betty) I can still taste the curry dish (in a good, imaginative way...not in a reflux way.) AND I can still see Julie's gorgeous face, smile and tiny tight body. Julie, you are just a dream girl! You have everything going for you and deserve all of the good that has and will come your way. It was so fun to finally meet and laugh. I did not run/walk the half in NY, which means another trip must be planned. I did run in the park two days, which were breathtakingly beautiful!! And I did fit in many miles of pounding the pavement. Oh, I miss New York already. Two years ago I spent a fortune on a single hand-beaded scarf/work of art in Saks. I could not fit a thing and figured that at least I could always look good in a scarf. This time I bought too many cheap little tops at H & M, just because they fit. I also bought two pairs of gorgeous heels that would have been disastrous prior to the banding. So I am SO happy to have celebrated my 2-year bandiversary. I can't wait to see where I will be in another year! Thank you, my friends, for all of the continued encouragement. We don't need to have a weight loss to report to find value here. This is a safe place to vent, and a place where we can encourage each other to keep moving and setting goals!

Ooh it is so fun to meet our new friends on this thread and to hear about your successes and struggles! Betty, what weight were you last summer when I saw you? I thought you looked "just right." It really matters how we feel...joints, energy levels, appetite and all. It is just the best feeling to not have cravings, to not be in pain and to not feel down in the dumps! XO

Okay, I'm here! I ran 3.5 miles two days ago. It was not too bad. My doctor had me freaked out that terrible irreversible things would happen if I continued to run. I'm pretty reasonable, but if it feels GOOD to do something (like run) then it is worth the risk to me. I believe my back is stronger (and all of the other supporting muscles, tissues and bones) idf I do run. Now as far as grooming for a marathon, I just don't think it will be in my near future. The far future is undetermined. As for April, I am in! I will have to find a way to exercise while traveling, but I'm sure something will work out. For Mother's Day I would like to regain the muscle tone that I have lost due to ordered rest. And I would like to get back into the (mid)150's permanently. My weight shot up to 164 this week.:tongue_smilie: Ladies, it is wonderful that we collectively motivate each other and set our goals high. Individually, we are all different, and should feel great success with reaching our goals!! In other words, for our new friends...we are only competing with ourselves! Julie, please talk to me about NY. Can we run or something? I don't want to miss seeing you. I'm coming Saturday and will be at my daughter's, then a friends until the 8th. Woohoo! Love to you all!

BTW, I am in complete awe of anyone having the courage to go through a TT!

Absolutely, losingjusme!!! We had a larger group and many have strayed. This thread was originally in the main forum which was easier to find. It is actually nice to be tucked away in a more "private" corner of LBT. We have gotten to know each other pretty well. Julie, Guysis, Dawn, and I seem to be the main regulars. You can't find a more motivating AND understanding group. It is pretty amazing to look at what we have accomplished with our weight-loss and exercise goals! Personally, reporting to my friends here has motivated me to get to the gym or hit the streets when the real urge has been to lay on the couch and eat ice cream . We would love the company. I'm totally loving running, but am currently on restriction while I complete some physical therapy. It is driving me crazy!!:embaressed_smile:

Join us, K@t!!! Hey Julie, does "Amourette" ring a bell? Yeah, I can imagine there are all kinds of "stuff" you are dealing with! Just dump it on us and let it go. We are your biggest fans, cheering section, and want the best for you. You are an amazing woman and deserve to live a charmed life. Betty, it looks like I will be in Seattle in July/August. I may be coming twice over the summer. I really thought I would be there this week, but there are too many work-related opportunities right now. Guess what? In two weeks I am going to see "Mary Poppins" on Broadway! I am SO excited. Betty, you know me well enough to understand how I would like to BE/play Mary Poppins:smile:. I only wish it were young Julie Andrews in the title role. Is anyone satisfied, yet??? I feel confident in public and around friends now, but I still dread the scale every morning. And it seems that I hardly eat anything. It might be time to track calories. It is just the thing I have never wanted to do!!! Take care, dear friends!! Thanks for the concerns. My flu is much better, back is slowly responding, and life is good again!!!

Hi ladies! It is so good to hear from April 06 band buddies! I have stalled out at 160 lbs. There are easily 20 more to go, but it is good to stabilize and NOT gain it all back for once!! I took up running and have had a BLAST!! A prior back injury has kept me from upping the distance too much more. Ten miles was my highest achievement. Now I must drop back a bit to see if I can take some pressure off my back. I'll run 2-3 miles now, but am just ITCHING to take off!! The exercise really helps. Maybe when I can step it up there will be movement on the scale again. We are all nearing our two-year "bandiversaries." Just think where we would be now if we had not had the courage to make a change! Great thread!!