JulieNYC

The Good: Being able to travel on an airplane comfortably and, thus, getting to see my family and friends a lot more often. The Bad: As rewarding as it is, this is a REALLY long road.... The Ugly: I'm still heavy enough to where some @ssholes on the street say mean things to me if I'm walking alone.

Today I walked a couple of miles out in the city (shopping again) then I went to the gym and did 35 minutes on the elliptical. Only 35 because I went up a level....Six out of 15 DOWN!

You look AMAZING! I'm with the poster who said you look like a college girl. Way to go.

Oh Molly, that's fabulous!!! Fifty lbs is a HUGE milestone! DOn't you just feel wonderful? Way to go. Can't wait for your Twoterville post. Take care,

FYI, the NYU support group that meets on the third Wednesday of every month (Skirball conference room -- usually on the 3rd floor but this month on the second floor) at the main NYU hospital on 31st and 1st Ave. at 6 p.m. is having a clothing exchange in addition to the regular support group this month. Come on over if you're looking for a bandster group and some new clothes to boot. There's no charge (just bring some clothes that are now too big) and you don't have to be an NYU patient to participate.

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/238/150 - 25 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/271/150 - 29 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/225/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/178/130 - 30 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/190.5/134 - 43.5 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/277/150 - 81 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 - 248/230/212/140 - 36 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/200/145 - 17.5 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: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-18: LapBandit - 392/369/347/336/324/308/298 - 94 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/188/130 - 32 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/253/156 - 35 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/226/150 - 47 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/248/150 - 62 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/106.6/69 - 18.4 kgs/40.4 lbs total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/230/170 - 40 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/233.5/165 - 55.5 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/241/160 - 21 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/244/145 - 26 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/204/145 - 60 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 - 283/267/251.5/145 - 31.5 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/268/145 - 65 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 224/214/175/135 - 49 total 4-28: MomofSixKids - 240/238/210/150 - 30 total

This is interesting. It's something I'd actually been meaning to ask my band doctor about. He uses the term "plateau" for no loss in 2 weeks (though "paused" does somehow make me feel better -- thanks!). I'd read, here and elsewhere, different (longer) timeframes for the word. So, I looked it up in a medical dictionary and it didn't have an associated timeframe at all. Then (because I'm a lawyer and it's my job to be annoyingly precise) I scoured the Department of Health website and couldn't find a definition. Where does your definition come from Wheetsin? In my experience, you always know what you're talking about with weight loss and I'm interested in your source! BTW, since I seem to have a pause at the same weights as you, would you mind telling me if you've had one since 279? I want to be prepared....

Boy these last 5 lbs are hanging on tight. I'm ITCHING to be done with them because then my BMI will be in the 40s. I don't know why I care about that so much. I think it's partially the BMI and partially that I was in the 260s (266, specifically) for a LOOONNGG time -- I feel that that was my "real" weight before I gained this last bit when I started work. If I can get below that, maybe I'll believe I'm making real progress. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and this whole band journey is going to have been a dream.

My doc requires you to wait 6 weeks. I had mine in week 7 due to scheduling issues.

Forced myself out of an afternoon nap to make it to do my treadmill time at the gym today.... I'm up to FIVE and it's only the 9th. Right on track....

Kat, please keep us posted on your granddaughter. That's very scary and I hope it resolves soon. My walk was FABULOUS. I spent too much money stopping in all the stores on the way home, but it was a good 4 miles and I felt so good to be able to do it. I used to feel like I was the only one in the city who wanted to take a cab, bus or subway when everyone else wanted to walk. Now I walk too! Tomorrow I'll get in "real" gym time....

Sunta, that's GREAT! Keep your list going as they pile up, ok? BTW, what's the weight limit on an epidural? I didn't know there was one!

Josette, I'm so relieved for you regarding the skin issue. At least one of the two things bothering you is back under control! Now, knock your husband up side the head and tell him he's not in high school anymore -- no summer vacation for 3 months! I'm sure things will be just fine and I'm so thankful that your health issue resolved. Take care,

Try the chickpatties while you're at it. They're DELICIOUS and keep me full for every bit of 4 hours. Add a small veggie and you're set for an easy meal!

Just to present a different view, my experience is totally opposite from Sugarplum's. I eat out every week. Even with being vegetarian (which presents its own list of menu issues) I don't plan ahead and I've never gotten sick in public. I do, however, often only order an appetizer, which sometimes requires explanation to the waiter or dining companion. You have a choice as to how tight to keep your band and what lifestyle you wish to maintain while banded. Many people choose to be tighter, which means that they have to be a lot more careful about their choices, restaurants, etc. The upside is that they get a lot of control from their band in the weight loss journey. That is absolutely the right choice for some people. For me, I'd rather be a little looser and be able to eat any texture of food (even bread, though I don't often choose it). It's important to my lifestyle (I'm an attorney that takes clients out a lot, I'm single and I live in NYC so eating out is inherently part of the picture) and it hasn't interfered with my weight loss goals yet, so it's working for me. The band really dimms my head hunger, though quantity control I have to work on myself more than some, given that I chose to be looser. My point is, you have choices. Getting the band will not make you miserable. It's adjustible for a reason!

Today I'm going to walk home from work, via a store that is actually in the wrong diretion. It's going to be about 4 miles. It's not "gym" exercise, but it's going to count because I would take the subway but for this challenge.

Debi, I'm so sorry for this set back. The thing is, you're on a road to better overall health and weight loss through being banded is only one component. Get your heart taken care of (which might happen quicker than you think, with or without the stints) and you'll be stable for band surgery. Then, you'll already be so much healthier than you were at the beginning of your journey! Be one of those annoying patients who really follows up about getting appointments, tests and procedures scheduled ASAP and maybe there's a chance you'll be banded in this calendar year after all. Let us know if we can help.

That's WONDERFUL! I can't wait for the day when I don't worry about whether I'll fit into a booth! Sometimes they fit and sometimes they don't, but some day, I won't even think about it. Maybe I'll even PREFER a booth one day, who knows! Happy anniversary and give her a big hug (with arms touching because she's so skinny) for us.

OK, I'm officially on a plateau. I haven't dropped in 2 weeks. I know I'm doing everything I can (eating right, exercising, drinking my water), but my body just likes 280. Maybe it was a set-point for me, who knows. Maybe I'll drop 5 lbs overnight sometime soon, who knows. But what DO I know? That this is the PITS! I went through this when I was around 305 as well. Maybe it's just something my body does every 25 lbs or so. I do recall that when it broke, I slid through the 290s very quickly. Let's hope for that.

OK, for the THIRD time this month, I went to the gym solely because of this thread. Fabulous! I hope it stays as motivational for me (and you all, of course) all month. Today I was BEAT from work, but I decided I'd go swim some laps. That's my "fallback" exercise when I don't really feel like it. I enjoy being in the Water so much that it's not like real exercise to me (even though physically it certainly is). So, I swam my 30 minutes and racked up my tally for this post. I plan to work out Fri, Sat, Sun too, so I can get back on target to make my 15 times. How are you all doing??

It's stuck between the pouch and the lower stomach in what's called the stoma (i.e. "the hole" you refer to). It's rare to get really stuck. Some people use the term to refer to being too full as well, which isn't as painful as being truly stuck, but is uncomfortable. Either (food in stoma/too much in pouch) can cause a PB.

Boo, I'm on a plateau too. It's been about 2 weeks now. I'm hoping it'll break tomorrow because it's time! We'll see.

I take extra firm tofu and cut it into dice-sized pieces. I brown it in a wok for about 5-7 minutes then set aside. Then spray the wok with Pam and add in water chestnuts, baby corn (the kind that are more like pickles than corn -- no probs going down) and sugar snap peas (or snow peas if sugar snap are not in season). I brown that for about 7 minutes then I add back in the tofu PLUS 1T green curry paste. Add salt and pepper and YUM. All for about 150 cals per cup. Can't beat it in my book!

Hahaha, I hear you guys on the shoes! To date, that's been the best part of my early journey -- the return to heels! Gosh they make you feel sexy, even if you're still a larger size than you'd like....

Way to go for getting that exercise in even with a house full of company, Betty. WOOHOO! I'm visiting friends in NC for the long weekend, but today, I took their baby out for a long walk (uphill, I might add). I would NOT have done this, but for this challenge! TWO down, 13 or more to go....