silvers320

I could have written your post. When I first started I never thought a BMI of 25 was possible. That would have meant a loss of 125. For a while, I was really focused on this- not so much these days. I am at 25.4 - an could happily live with that. However, much like HH - I have lost muscle that needs to be replaced, which I haven't really figured out how to do yet. But if one more person says too me "you're so thin". I suppose its better then "you're such a fat ass" but still. If you hear something enough, you start to wonder. As you did am I going to far?? HH - I love the Tear Down, Rebuild idea!!! Going to adopt it as a thought process.

Today's newpapers covered no less then 4 topics all related to dirty/ self interested polications. Am I the only person who see this as crazy? First, you have the Assembly woman, who it turns out wasn't really living in her district, a voliation of the terms of being an assembly person. This was discovered when she tried to cheat on her taxes by claiming STAR exemptions on both homes. When caught - her story has changed more times then MJ's skin tone. NOW we learn that for almost $100,000 a year this woman only bothers to show up 36% of time!!!!!! And she doesn't resign.. the moment this little fact is released??? Next up - the city council man who plead guilt to missing taxpayer funds. The best thing I can say is that least he resigned when it was uncovered. Then came the state house. First up is the now democratic senator who just got a chairman ship and a 12,500 raise. Why does this matter. Well, 3 weeks ago he left the party to join the replubicans so they would have the majority. Now days after he returns to the dems - he is rewarded with cash and a new title. Wow, how do i get a job where NOT looking out for the person who hired me is in my best interest? Last..... The Governor has found someone qualified and more importantly willing to take over our transit system, this requires House approval. However, they are going on vacation - cant be bothered. Plus they are still miffed at the governor for his handling of the whole, change in majority that took place 3 weeks ago, so lets behave like 2nd graders.The head of the transit commissions is quoted as saying "You know how Santa laughes... HO HO HO" when asked about it. What is most stunning to me as think about all of this is this: I would bet the average NY state resident could tell me about the Governor of SC's affair, about the details of MJ's death, and Farrah's cancer details but NOT how insane thier own officals have become. What a disgrace. So much for entering poltics for the greater good......

Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says city will pick up $1.4M tab for Michael Jackson funeral I am not sure how the taxpayers got suckered in to paying for this unneeded expense. Why not have the family pay for it? Or I am sure the Franklin Mint or one of those places is going to make some kind of collectible- strike a deal with them. Whatever you think of MJ (and his life) - I am not sure any private citizen warrants a $1.4 million dollar taxpayer funded sendoff.

I become a fan of the Skinny vanilla latte. The skinny means its skim milk and sugar free vanilla. You can get it iced or hot. Granted - It doesnt sound very manly (a problem you wont have to deal with) when its called out but I have come to terms with there are worst things than being called skinny.

I had picked up one or two from TJ Maxx I think... spending $35 bucks on an undershirt just seems wrong to me. It fit snug for a week or two but I lost pretty fast so beyond that it fit like a regular undershirt. I skipped it going forward... an now sort of at the maintence phase I am not sure it would have done anything anyway. Plus wearing it I couldn't help but think of the Seinfield with the BRO.

I suppose its worth trying- what could it hurt right? But I would still start the waiting period requirements so that if in a month the letter doesn't count for anything, so havent wasted a month. I have Aetna and had to do the 6 month wait/diet. Then was denied, then appealed and approved. So document everything. And in the mean time do your homework so you use the 4 months to your advantage.

I will second the this is a lifestyle not a diet concept. Telling myself I could never again have X or Y was not going to work for me. But I have found ways to curb the carving without keeping me on the treadmill for an extra hour. chocolate - a SF pudding - with a teaspoon of Peanut Butter. Taste like a big reese cup! Two cravings in one. I also keep a small block of really good dark chocolate in the house. One square goes along way. Milk doesnt seem to work to curb the craving - dont know why. chips - it still has to be chips. I can't buy a "family size" bag because eating the whole bag is still too easy a year out. So I spend a little extra and buy the small lunch bag size. Usually only have chips once every two months or so the extra cost isnt going to keep me from retirement!

Welcome Steve. From a fellow Hudson Valley-ite. I lived in the newburgh area for years, now outside Poughkeepsie Dennis

I had a similar experience at a BBQ. And the husband who was fat, wanted to know what I did and I was trying to not make a big deal out of. His wife whispered to him. "oh he had that surgery" It REALLY pissed me off at first - for 2 reason. 1. Yes, I did have a surgery. I used 150-200 of medical advances. No different then a polio vaccine. If I had a pace maker put in - no one would bat an eye. 2. Second, yes I had a surgery but I have never worked harder at anything in my life. I had to change 30+ years of bad eating habits and lack of activity. In the end they can think what they like, you can't change people but I know the truth.

This weekend I found myself saying things I never thought I would say: Sat Wow, I think these 34w pants are loose. Sunday at the mall Maybe I should try a Medium On the treadmill yesterday: Damn, I have missed running Anyone care to add any?

I agree that the whole slime/pb thing is different the throwing up. And its going to happen at some point - its a fact of life, you are trying to change a lifetime of habits and there will come a day when the old habits will resurface - if only for a moment. And you will take too big of a bite, of not chew as well as you should or whatever. And it will be uncomfortable and gross but part of this is behavior modification. And the pb/slime is like the dog with the electric fence who trys to leave the yard. On the other hand there are people on here here who it seems have accepted pb-ing as a daily life fact. I think that is wrong.

I am just about at goal - about 10 pounds less then I even thought I would weigh. There isnt anything that I can't eat. I do tend to stay away from white carbs, but not because I can't eat them . I did measure my food early on because I had no concept of what a 6 oz or a 1/2 a cup looked like. I had to reset my frame of reference. nmalek- keep an eye on those flavored waters, if you dont get the 10 calorie one (which is actually 20 calories a bottle) you end up with something like 300 empty calories.

The concept is fast/ normal. So whatever your doing you do some faster - then some at a slower normal rate. It can be applied to the stairmaster, the treadmill - or even "old fashion" things like jumping jacks. So lets say you are walking on a treadmill at a rate of 4.0 - maybe you try doing 4.4. (or what ever your comfortable with) for say 3 mins. Then you drop back to 3.7 for say 3 mins. Each segment of time being an interval. You could do how ever many intervals you are comfortable with. The studies stay that it tricks the body to burn calories at a faster rate then if you just stay at the 4.0 for the whole 6 mins. Hope that helps

I actually had to read your post a couple of times - because at first I thought what you had been doing wasnt working but then when I re-read it, it seems the scale is moving and the mirror image is changing! All good. I am a big believer in interval training. I used to believe that the longer I worked out - it must be better. When I got banded I switched to intervals - and it seems to have worked.

No way to tell. It was more then likely there for a month or so before I called the doc.

I am a member of the two-fer club also. First port went in July 08 - came out in Nov 08. The second one went in Jan 09 and by the first week of Feb it was starting to show signs of infection. Thankfully, the doc put me on IV antibiotics which mean a trip to the hospital every day for two weeks, which was a pain but it saved the port.

Yep happened to me. I figured I was being a tough guy and would work thru the pain. It ended up being a port infection. I had to have my first port replaced because I didnt act quick enough. Call the doctor today. Could be nothing but he gets paid to make that call.

For me this was a big concern. I love food, I love really good food but I also used to love crap food. So I was worried how the band who change my tastes. Because I have slowed the speed at which I eat - I actually really taste what I am eating. So I love food even more then before. When I go out to eat I no longer HAVE too order the biggest thing on the menu in order to fill my pie hole. I can order what sounds good. My desire for crap food (chips, candy etc) is all but gone. There are some days when I really, really want it- and I let myself have it but I now happy with a hand full of chips as oppose to 1/2 a bag. I eat things these days I wouldn't have touched before. So much of my diet was bread pre band that I didnt know what I was missing with Beans, and chili, etc

So I am ready to get off the treadmill and head outside. But I still want to be able to get all the stats I currently get from the treadmill's monitors - Distance, Calories etc etc. Anyone have any suggestions? I am also thinking about upgrading to the new iphone - so if anyone has one of the training apps would like to hear about that also. Thanks Guys

Well, as a banded man -welcome. I dont know what you mean by smaller size- pre band I had a bmi of 41. I will agree with the other guy who said - "Don't assume you know what you want at this point" Consider the pluses and minuses of the band, bypass and GS. Then consider yourself - you know yourself better then anyone else. I will say that, as a former volume eater - the band has worked really well for me. But I have also worked to change a lifetime of habits. So its not as simple as set it and forget it. Good Luck - ask any questions we are a helpful bunch

Part of me can understand not sharing with folks their band size and fill amounts -I think there are some folks who rely to much on that one piece of the "program" But making a patient feel poorly about themselves helps no one. I would contact him and let him know your take on the conversation. Then I would explain to him that even with the 2 lbs gain you are right at the 1.5 to 2 lbs per week expected loss that the makers of the band say to expect - if my math/ your surgery date etc are correct. And ask what is it about his methods that you should be expected to excedd the band makers guidelines. Between now and your next visit I would log my food and keep a workout log to bring with me. I would not share these items until you have seen his reaction to your next weigh in. If he is more positive - you won't need them, if he is abusive again - say "Let's look at my committment level - with the proof" ( and stick a sock it in). If the appointment goes that way it might be time to start doc shopping.

Well you have to not think of it as a diet, because we all know diets don't work. When I got the band - I figured this was the last chance. And I committed myself to re-educate myself on portions, food choices etc. I had time - since the liquid time made my meal times a snap. For me, I had two vises : huge amounts of food at one sitting and bad choices. The limits my food volume. As of choices - that's up to me - and I figure if I make the right choice 90-95% - all is right with the world. But in the same token if I REALLY want a cookie - I have it. But these days I am happy with one - in the past it would have taken 1/2 a bag.

Talk to your doctor. I had the same problem early on. I would get so hungry that I eat so fast I would take one or two bites and get stuck. My doc ok'd 2 small snacks a day which made the world of difference. These days I dont always do a snack every day - I just listen to my body. But yes- it does get better. Its a learning and reeducation process.

I know this isn't a Marist Poll but still the fact that 60% of those polled PB on a regular basis is troubling to me. A large part of this process is behavior modification and I have to wonder if some of these folks didn't have their restriction ramped up too quickly (which would achieve WL) and perhaps didn't have a chance to learn the new behaviors? I say this not to judge anyone, but because why should you accept pb-ing as a daily fact of life? Isn't accepting PB's as the norm just exchanging one unhealthy lifestyle for another? Isn't the purpose of the band to move you towards a healthier life? I think we need to stop looking at the band as a tool. You use a tool to achieve a desired result, but with most tools - its a one way street. I perfer to think of my band as a business partnership. You benefit from a business partnership. Each partner brings to the table something. For me the band brought forced portion control and carb control early on - while I brought my willingness to change my habits, make better choices. And as will all great partnership - if one of the partners once in a while wants a cookie so be it. This conculdes the Dr. Phil portion of this post.

The 200 lb mark is a huge deal for those of us that have always been fat - I can completely relate- and I had the same problems around that point. I think for me, if was because I was so focused on it. Forget out the scale for a week or two and see what happens. Not judging but is it possible that if you are pb-ing often, weak and cant eat most things that maybe you are too tight and not getting in enough calories for your activity level? Do you log your food? It know it sounds like a pain in the ass but I find it helps when I hit a plateau.