A1ikou

I joined the Gone for Good club...was "persuaded" LOL! They post their weightloss on a Wednesday but I'm used to Sundays. Anyway it works out Ok cos I always have a peek day and that can now be Sundays. Plus, this week I really got going again on Wednesday after my fill so weighing in next Wednesday will make it a good week. The scale is moving in a downwards direction again :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: but then with what I've eaten this week and the work I've put in, I'd be real disappointed if it didn't. I'm gonna wait until Wednesday to see if I lose anymore...watch this space (or the GFG!) I'm doing well with my walking and building up my time. I'm at a good heart rate when walking and build up a sweat by the time I finish. Once I get to a happy walking time, I'll work on increasing the speed a little. Some days this week I haven't taken any insulin and when I have had to it's been minimal...10units most (from 90 before band). I'll chat with my doc next week to see what general revisions he wants to do. My BP has been great except for now..it's my TOM and each month it goes up? It can be 110/68 in the morning and get to 146/80by night. I dunno why other than my gyni said it happens because of hormones. So for now I still need help with this periodically (no pun intended! :confused: ) I'm doing well and feel really upbeat and positive about just about everything I can think of :clap2: Not much more to ask for really!

With me the telling is on a need to know basis. My husbands family live in the same apartment block as us and we eat with them a lot, so I told them from the beginning. My family are in the UK (I'm in Greece) and so I didn't tell them, figuring I would surprise them when I see them next- next March- with my weight loss. They knew I was having a surgery but I only told them about the gallbladder half of it. Then my mum came for a visit and so I told her...she was fine and supportive. I have told 2 friends, one here and one in Uk because we talk lots and I knew I'd end up saying something to make them curious. I don't have a problem with telling most people but I do have a problem with those people who from the second they know will start judging you every time they see you. This is me and my band and our journey together, the good and the bad. No-one else has any right to judge how well or not I'm doing. So, if there's no reason to know, I aint telling :nervous

Hi everyone, Well me and my new treadmill Arthur ...Ar-thur(read there) many more minutes to do on this thing?!?!?! (OK its terrible I know but I try)...are getting on splendidly :nervous I usually get weighed on a Sunday and have to get used to the new rountine but I confess I peeked today to see what's going on! Let's say I'm still smiling! Since my second fill I'm doing fine again with food and just hope this continues to be the case. Thanks for the welcome:biggrin1: It's good to be here...finally! LOL.

OK, after much persuading by certain folks...you know who you are, I would love to join the club! (I was going to anyway:nervous ). I was banded on 20th March here in Athens Greece where I live. My stats are as follows: H375lbs S375lbs J329lbs and current 329lbs. A1ikou's Score Card for June Challenge Points earned for Rule 1 For each day that you drink a minimum of 64oz of water, you earn 1 point. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31_6-01_6-02_1__6-03__16-04__1_6-05__1_6-06__1__ 6-07_1__Bonus__0_Week's Total_6__ 6-08_1_6-09_1_6-10_1_6-11_1_6-12_1_6-13_1_6-14_1_ Bonus_5_Week's Total_12_ 6-15_1_6-16_1_6-17_1_6-18_1_6-19_1_6-20_1_6-21_1_ Bonus_5_Week's Total_12_ 6-22_1_6-23_1_6-24_1_6-25_1_6-26_1_6-27_1_6-28_1_ Bonus_5_Week's Total_12_ Grand Total_42_ Points earned for Rule 2 For each day that you exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, you earn 2 points. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31 _6-01_6-02__2_6-03__2__6-04__2_6-05_2_6-06_2_6-07_2_ Bonus_0_Week's Total__12_ 6-08_2_6-09_2_6-10_2_6-11_2_6-12_2_6-13_2_6-14_2_ Bonus_5_Week's Total_19_ 6-15_2_6-16_2_6-17_2_6-18_2_6-19_2_6-20_2_6-21_2_ Bonus_5_Week's Total_19_ 6-22_2_6-23_2_6-24_2_6-25_2_6-26_2_6-27_2_6-28_2_ Bonus_5_Week's Total_19_ Grand Total_69_ Points earned for Rule 3 For each day that you do not eat foods that contain flour or sugar, you earn 3 points. (sugar substitutes are allowed) You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31_6-016-02 _3_6-03_3_6-04_3_6-05_3_6-06_3_6-07_3__ Bonus__0_Week's Total_18_ 6-08_3_6-09_3_6-10 _3_6-11_3_6-12_3_6-13_3_6-14_0_ Bonus_0_Week's Total_18_ 6-15_3_6-16_3_6-17_3_6-18_3_6-19_0_6-20_3_6-21_3_ Bonus_0_Week's Total_18_ 6-22_3_6-23_3_6-24_3_6-25_3_6-26_3_6-27_3_6-28_3_ Bonus_5_Week's Total_26_ Grand Total_80_ Points earned for Weight loss For each pound that you lose during the challenge, you earn 1 point Beginning weight 5-31: 329 Weigh-in weight 6-7:320 (-9lbs) Weigh-in weight 6-14:320(-0) Weigh-in weight 6-21:324(+4:think ) Weigh-in weight 6-28:318(-6) Total lost during challenge:11 Total points earned for Rule 1:42 Total points earned for Rule 2:69 Total points earned for Rule 3:80 Total points earned for weight loss:11 Total Challenge points earned:202

My 2nd fill has left me with a feeling of a 'something' but it's very hard to put into words. I want to say I can feel it but that's silly! I guess there is a general tightness that wasn't there before. I did two days of soups and they went down fine. Today I opted for soft foods..so I had a yoghurt for brekkie and that was Ok. I blended a tin of tuna with teaspoon mayo light and some dill and onion salad mix I have. I ate about 3 teaspoons and was full. Ate the rest a few hours later. For dinner I chopped an egg and a slice of low fat cheese and blended them again with one teaspoon mayo light. Everything went down fine, so tomorrow I'll try so meat and veg and see how I go. I love my new treadmill. I did half an hour yesterday at a steady pace and today did 40mins. I built up a sweat but know over the next week I will be able to do more...the handles make such a difference for my back and neck not aching. Me, my mp3 with summer songs (upbeat and catchy) and my treadmill are gonna have a great summer Tomorrow I might go back to 'my' hotel and swim some more but not sure yet. I was bought 3 new bathing suits as a gift and have only tried one of them out so far :cool: so need to swim more! I must be getting enough protein right now because my nails are long and strong and this doesn't happen so often!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I gave myself a french manicure today and am well pleased...love long nails on women! My period is due and usually at this point in the week I'm tearful and tetchy but hormones are in reverse and I feel so upbeat and positive I can't quite believe it! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

My 2nd fill has left me with a feeling of a 'something' but it's very hard to put into words. I want to say I can feel it but that's silly! I guess there is a general tightness that wasn't there before. I did two days of soups and they went down fine. Today I opted for soft foods..so I had a yoghurt for brekkie and that was Ok. I blended a tin of tuna with teaspoon mayo light and some dill and onion salad mix I have. I ate about 3 teaspoons and was full. Ate the rest a few hours later. For dinner I chopped an egg and a slice of low fat cheese and blended them again with one teaspoon mayo light. Everything went down fine, so tomorrow I'll try so meat and veg and see how I go. I love my new treadmill. I did half an hour yesterday at a steady pace and today did 40mins. I built up a sweat but know over the next week I will be able to do more...the handles make such a difference for my back and neck not aching. Me, my mp3 with summer songs (upbeat and catchy) and my treadmill are gonna have a great summer :girl_hug: Tomorrow I might go back to 'my' hotel and swim some more but not sure yet. I was bought 3 new bathing suits as a gift and have only tried one of them out so far :confused: so need to swim more! I must be getting enough protein right now because my nails are long and strong and this doesn't happen so often!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I gave myself a french manicure today and am well pleased...love long nails on women! My period is due and usually at this point in the week I'm tearful and tetchy but hormones are in reverse and I feel so upbeat and positive I can't quite believe it! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

O.K, what do I think about my band? Upon this issue, should I make a stand? For as you all do very well know, Sitting won't help those pounds to go. Move your body just exercise, Good grief this thing'll be my demise! Or maybe it'll be the thing to give, Me a better life to live. My kidneys too would give me a hug, For all the water I glug, glug, glug, Not sure about my legs and knees, Getting me to the bathroom in time to pee! No more bread and no more coke, Yeah but lotsa new clothes to make hubby broke! No more junk food, says doctors letter, Yeah but a healthier me and that's much better. I chew my food 'til my teeth do ache, Make it mushy for goodness sake, Chew, chew, chew it all the time... Or you'll PB with lots of slime! Motivation and encouragement too I've found, Didn't go far just searched around, The internet...something for me, And there it was - good old LBT. In sickness, in health, for better, for worse, Whether a blessing or whether a curse, Right now for me, life's just grand, And all I can say is...I love my band!

My treadmill was delivered this morning! It's huge and fills my spare room but it was only one designed for my weight that we found and liked :biggrin1: So I did my first 15 mins to see what my back, knees, ankle etc thought of it and they were all absolutely fine :clap2: So that's me sorted then! Got new music on my mp3 and I'm soooo ready LOL

Loved the entry hehehehehehehe! You are doing an awesome job...but then you know that! Keep up the good work.

I was the worst dieter ever. I would work hard for a month or so and then if I didn't see anything changing I would throw caution to the wind and eat even more. I'm 10 weeks out from being banded and absolutely everything has changed. First of all the weight fell of at first. I was lucky in that, like some others, I just didn't feel hungry. Couldn't get my head around that but my body seemed happy enough. I still can't always belive how full I can feel with so seemingly little food!!! Then I started walking...I HATE(D) walking! My back hurt, I was out of breath but I was trying...and still the weight came off. I do have choices to make now and for the first time in my whole life I'm thinking about them and making good ones. I got a treadmill and I like walking on it (OK it only came today LOL but I still liked it). Thanks to people here I'm more motivated and encouraged than ever before and it helps all the more because they really understand what I'm going through and what it is I want to achieve. So yeah I have to do some work now..physical and mental but you know what...I'm really happy to do it!

My treadmill was delivered this morning! It's huge and fills my spare room but it was only one designed for my weight that we found and liked :biggrin1: So I did my first 15 mins to see what my back, knees, ankle etc thought of it and they were all absolutely fine :clap2: So that's me sorted then! Got new music on my mp3 and I'm soooo ready LOL

Thanks Telly but here in Greece regardless of "rules" everyone kinda does their own thing LOL. I'll ask him again and if I push him I think he'll tell..."I have ways of making him talk..."

Well what a palarva! I went yesterday for my 2nd fill. Since my first fill was almost a disaster, I will now only let my surgeon do them and not members of his team! Since so many people ask me on here and I honestly didn't know, I decided to ask about my band...how big, how many cc's etc? His reply...ahh you don't need to know that...I'll take care of everything!:omg: :faint: What could I do? If the doc don't want to tell me I can't exactly make him LOL and so I'll do what he said and trust him. Apart from that, everything went fine. He did the fill in a few seconds it seemed and said hopefully now I would start to feel some restriction:clap2: I drank water fine while I was there and again when I got home. Today and tomorrow I'm on soups and everything seems OK. I'll let you know what happens when I get back onto foods and if there is actually any difference. What else? Went for a walk this morning into town and bought myself some body butter from the Body Shop...smells so good you could eat it...well it would be a soft food LOL They gave me a nice sarong as a gift and it's the same colour as my new swimming cossie so that was good I treated myself to some new mascara and nail polish while I was out. I need a hat too but couldn't find one that I liked. I'm not used to wearing hats so I guess I just felt self conscious in all of them. I called in the supermarket to get some cuppa soups and thats about it. Later!

Well what a palarva! I went yesterday for my 2nd fill. Since my first fill was almost a disaster, I will now only let my surgeon do them and not members of his team! Since so many people ask me on here and I honestly didn't know, I decided to ask about my band...how big, how many cc's etc? His reply...ahh you don't need to know that...I'll take care of everything!:omg: :faint: What could I do? If the doc don't want to tell me I can't exactly make him LOL and so I'll do what he said and trust him. Apart from that, everything went fine. He did the fill in a few seconds it seemed and said hopefully now I would start to feel some restriction:clap2: I drank water fine while I was there and again when I got home. Today and tomorrow I'm on soups and everything seems OK. I'll let you know what happens when I get back onto foods and if there is actually any difference. What else? Went for a walk this morning into town and bought myself some body butter from the Body Shop...smells so good you could eat it...well it would be a soft food LOL They gave me a nice sarong as a gift and it's the same colour as my new swimming cossie so that was good :confused: I treated myself to some new mascara and nail polish while I was out. I need a hat too but couldn't find one that I liked. I'm not used to wearing hats so I guess I just felt self conscious in all of them. I called in the supermarket to get some cuppa soups and thats about it. Later!

I just finished Predator by Patricia Cornwell. It's from a series of books about a forensic pathologist called Dr.Kay Scarpetta who deals with some very grisly murders and murderers!

Monday- yep again. Come round every week it seems! I had a busy day doing all kinds of bits and bobs. When I went to do my lessons this afternoon hubby bought me a treadmill :clap2: to be delivered Friday all being well. Now down to some serious walking! That's all really...2nd fill day tomorrow. Will report back on that on Wednesday.

Monday- yep again. Come round every week it seems! :confused: I had a busy day doing all kinds of bits and bobs. When I went to do my lessons this afternoon hubby bought me a treadmill :clap2: to be delivered Friday all being well. Now down to some serious walking! That's all really...2nd fill day tomorrow. Will report back on that on Wednesday.

I have lots of weird dream...am known for them! I don't know if this is because I just wake up after them or 'cos I'm basically nuts! Anyway I thought I'd share one of my daftest ever and see if you guys can beat it (I'm sincerely hoping you can and then I'll feel so much better). I dreamt I was in a lovely park feeding the ducks by the lake. When my bread was done went to sit on the bench for a while. A few minutes later a huge wasp (as in 6ft) comes and sits next to me. "Afternoon." He says all politness. I sat for a while and then thought I'd take my chance. "Excuse me," I said, "but can you tell me why you sting people? It really hurts you know and we don't like it." "I'm sorry," he replied "but I have to. It's my job!" He then stands up, bows politely and walks off down the pathway. So...can you do better?

I did liquids for 10days post op and then mushies for a week and then was on normal foods. That's what my doctor told me to do and it worked well with how I was feeling and my hunger progression. But as others have said...that was my doctor and me followig his advice. You should give you doc's plan the best go you can and take it from there. Good luck!

I'm lucky because there's only me and hubby so I keep most tempting but naughty things out of the house and if he wants something he gets his own. That doesn't stop it from happening though and I have a few things I try and do.The drinking water helps if it's not too strong a 'pull' and I try and drink a lot so I just don't want to eat. Or I find something else to do. Come here and write my journal...makes me accountable for my actions or find someone to chat with. By the time you've done that you've forgotten you were hungry. Go out, shower, walk, swim...anything you can that's a distraction. If it's exercise based it often changes your mind set anyway because you feel so good with yourself! When my weight didn't go down for a 2nd week I planned a binge!!! Hubby was home for weekend so Monday was my day. Then Sunday I went swimming and felt good so the binge feelings went away. Finally...if I can't make it go away at all I at least think of what I'm going to eat and don't just grab at anything handy. I get my food (good or bad) and I sit down with it. I enjoy every single mouthful....if I'm going to do it,at least enjoy it right...and chew slowly. As soon as I feel I can, I stop and consider myself back on the wagon. Thankfully with the scale (generally) going down it's not something I'm dealing with as much and with my band I'm dealing with head hunger so much better than I ever did without it.:clap2:

Doesn't take much you know...to make me happy:) Although I live in Greece, finding a pool to swim in is hard work LOL. Maybe I should say- because I live in Greece. Most Greeks (except DH) love water but they tend to wait until nowish and spend all their summers in the sea (there's a lot of it about you know!). I'm not good in the sea. I don't balance well and although I'm quite a strong swimmer I feel safer when I have a side to grab onto if I need it (last time I looked the sea didn't have sides:phanvan ). So I want a pool. There are public pools but you virtually need a prescription to get in them as they tend to be used mainly for sports training. So today I rang some of the hotels in Glyfada (touristy town) and asked if they had pool and if so was it open to non residents? Then I picked one! :nervous I got hubby to drive me down and he went for a coffee and then to see his kids (from 1st marriage cos they live there). It cost $12 to get in but this is offset against bar and restaurant orders so not bad at all. I was a little nervous...would people look at me, would anyone laugh etc etc? Trust me to arrive just as a kids party was getting underway:faint: I found a table near the ladder into pool and sat for a few mins to survey the scene. Then thought ah stuff em..I paid to come here and if they stare, they stare. So off came the dress (cossie underneath already!) and up I got and into water! No-one batted an eye :biggrin1: The kids and their watching parents were too busy having fun and chatting to care and everyone else there was doing their own thing. So I swam...It's a big pool and so I had about 10m to myself and I did laps...30 of them :clap2: My arms were killing me but ooooh it was nice. I then stayed and just enjoyed the water. I was in for a good hour. Then was the only moment I dreaded! Getting out! Body weight is great in the water but pulling it out is another matter LOL. I took it slow and finally heaved myself out. There were 5 chaps sat directly opposite but I didn't look at them and they didn't look at me. Cool. I ordered a cappucino freddo (iced) and put on some sun cream and dried off. About 45mins later when I was ready, I called hubby and he came and got me. All in all a lovely morning that more than made up for not being able to go to seaside yesterday!:biggrin1: Ate part of a chef salad (not much sauce) for lunch and will eat the rest for dinner tonight. Like I said..doesn't take much!

Doesn't take much you know...to make me happy:) Although I live in Greece, finding a pool to swim in is hard work LOL. Maybe I should say- because I live in Greece. Most Greeks (except DH) love water but they tend to wait until nowish and spend all their summers in the sea (there's a lot of it about you know!). I'm not good in the sea. I don't balance well and although I'm quite a strong swimmer I feel safer when I have a side to grab onto if I need it (last time I looked the sea didn't have sides:phanvan ). So I want a pool. There are public pools but you virtually need a prescription to get in them as they tend to be used mainly for sports training. So today I rang some of the hotels in Glyfada (touristy town) and asked if they had pool and if so was it open to non residents? Then I picked one! :nervous I got hubby to drive me down and he went for a coffee and then to see his kids (from 1st marriage cos they live there). It cost $12 to get in but this is offset against bar and restaurant orders so not bad at all. I was a little nervous...would people look at me, would anyone laugh etc etc? Trust me to arrive just as a kids party was getting underway:faint: I found a table near the ladder into pool and sat for a few mins to survey the scene. Then thought ah stuff em..I paid to come here and if they stare, they stare. So off came the dress (cossie underneath already!) and up I got and into water! No-one batted an eye :biggrin1: The kids and their watching parents were too busy having fun and chatting to care and everyone else there was doing their own thing. So I swam...It's a big pool and so I had about 10m to myself and I did laps...30 of them :clap2: My arms were killing me but ooooh it was nice. I then stayed and just enjoyed the water. I was in for a good hour. Then was the only moment I dreaded! Getting out! Body weight is great in the water but pulling it out is another matter LOL. I took it slow and finally heaved myself out. There were 5 chaps sat directly opposite but I didn't look at them and they didn't look at me. Cool. I ordered a cappucino freddo (iced) and put on some sun cream and dried off. About 45mins later when I was ready, I called hubby and he came and got me. All in all a lovely morning that more than made up for not being able to go to seaside yesterday!:biggrin1: Ate part of a chef salad (not much sauce) for lunch and will eat the rest for dinner tonight. Like I said..doesn't take much!

Depends on season! Now it's summer and hot I glug away all day...I drank 3litres yesterday and at least 2litres everyday. As it gets colder again I find it harder to drink the water I need to, but since that's about all I drink these days it's easier than it used to be!

Hello again, Well the scale has stayed the same for the last two weeks and I must confess it got me down today a little :cry Still, I have my 2nd fill scheduled next week and hubby is going to order me a treadmill on Monday so I can walk more. I haven't been eating badly (as in food choices) but am suffering from "one more bite" syndrome! I have no feelings of restriction or fullness and only stop myself from eating too much by moving away from any food left in my little bowl when I decide enough is enough. I knew this could happen but after having such an easy time of it for the first two months it's come as a bit of a shock. Let's hope that scale starts it's downward trend again real soon. Keep up the good work folks :clap2:

Another weekend...they come around so fast! I went for a walk yesterday and combined it with a little shopping...every little helps :confused: I bought some gorgeous cooling footspray at the Body Shop and some other bits and pieces. The place is full of teenagers! They have finished school apart from days when they have to sit end of year exams and so they were walking, chatting and coffee drinking everywhere I looked:) I have eaten well all through the week but can't get the scale to move. I'm not eating bad foods as such but guess that "one more bite" syndrome puts paid to many things! I'm eagerly waiting to see what my 2nd fill does for me. Not sure what the plan is for the weekend...maybe we'll go to the seaside and stay until tomorrow - in a hotel with a nice big pool..ahh bliss- or maybe we wont! I have to wait til hubby gets home from his errands and we discuss it. If we don't go then I'll walk down the hill to a little shop I know and get my 2nd wooden cat. I bought the big one a couple of weeks ago but just couldn't carry two and so I want to go back and get his friend Apart from that I don't have any other fixed idea...the cinema maybe? I want to see the Da Vinci Code. If we go out I plan on taking my little fork and my tuppaware box. The Greeks don't do take home boxes or anything like that and so I've decided to invent my own. I might get some strange looks but what the hey. That way I can save a little to eat in the evening...salad and stuff. :clap2: There is a new taverna opening next door tonight and so I think it's gonna be a noisy weekend round here...better go to the seaside -don't you agree :girl_hug: :D ?