willowcat

Thanks for the encouragement 2911! It really does help. Today, I biked my regular 6 miles and then kept going for another 6 miles--I didn't know I even had it in me to bike that long! Now, I just have 6 miles to catch up before August is over. We can do it!

Melinda, I know exactly what you mean!! That eliptical is my Mount Everest!! I can walk; I can swim; I can bike--but three minutes on the elipitical is about all I can do. I can do more, but I have to rest for about a minute before I can do another three minutes, etc. My thigh muscles are on fire on that thing! For me, I've decided that I'm asking my poor thighs to lift all of my weight with each step (it's like doing a leg press of 250 lbs. on one of those weight machines!) I keep thinking that maybe after losing more weight, the eliptical won't be so god-awful hard. Congrats on your stick-with-it-ness to go to the gym after work! Proud of you (I'm wiped out after work) good for you! Yeah!:thumbup:

Jenai, Thanks for the book recommendation--I'm glad that you're finding it very helpful! Yes, I decided to live with the extra .5cc afterall. I'm still pretty tight, and the stress of work has made a few lunches at work last week a little "iffy", but overall, I guess I would say things are settling down for me. How's your new 1cc working out for you? Willow

Your determination to get in your remaining miles is encouraging/challenging me to make up for two lost days this week (it was tough being back at school this week--it's crystal clear now why I didn't exercise in the past)! I'm so competitive (with myself and also with others) that it's really eating at me to think I might not make goal this month--12 miles is a lot for me to add on to my regular miles (I might need to spread it out a little over the next several days--maybe have an am and a pm exercise session a few days), BUT if you will get in the remaining miles, then I WILL too! :thumbup:

Wow! You had a big week last week! Congrats on going over 100 lbs. lost and on the running--too cool! :thumbup:

I'm so happy for you, Jenai! :thumbup: What a wonderful side-benefit! Thank you for sharing that with us! Yeah!!!

Week 3: Biked this week: 38.3 (3.7 below goal--first week of school kicked my you-know-what--will have to make it up this week somehow)

I have 5.5 cc in my 10 cc band. I can get liquids down with ease but with food I've been experiencing quite a bit of "first bite syndrome." It's very frustrating and quite painful. Getting over the habitual/emotional part of eating is very hard. Often I want to eat "just because" and not because I'm hungry--but eating is really only for hunger times. Baby steps. You'll get there.

2911, Your ticker indicates that you have just 39 lbs. to lose. Perhaps that's the reason you're struggling with slow weight loss? Everyone says the closer you get to goal, the slower the weight-loss goes. I started my band journey with 150 lbs to lose, and yet I wasn't seeing much movement on the scale. I found a post on the Slow Losers Unite board about increasing protien (I think the thread is called, "A Few Weight Loss Tips From a Slow Loser--Now at Goal). She said that once she started adding Protein to everything she ate, that the weight just started melting away. After reading that thread, I increased my protein like she suggested. I did start seeing the scale really begin to move after that. Don't really know why it works for me, I'm just glad it does. Also, my band is pretty tight right now and I am hardly eating much of anything. I don't think I would be a good example of a daily menu (if this continues for another week, I'll probably get my .5 cc taken out--I think I might be too tight). Good luck. I know inches lost are nice but pounds lost are somehow even nicer.

Well, I start back to school tomorrow. 3 workday/meetings and Kids come in Thursday. I'm hoping my morning schedule is going to work...Come on Early Birds let's give each other good vibes in the morning! Deb Hi Deb! I started back last Wednesday and the kids came today. I'm proud to say that I've been up at 5:00 and on my exercise bike each and every one of those days! It must be all the good vibes you and the other Early Birds are sending my way! It feels so good to know that my exercise "debt" has been "paid" for the day! Also, my energy level is so much better so far this year--I'm 35 lbs. lighter, and my heart and legs are stronger from the exercise! Yeah! Good luck on Thursday with your students.

week 2 miles biked: 42.6 this week total so far: 85.9 miles to go: 94.1 1.9 miles over goal!

Yesterday was officially my first day back to school--meetings and such. The children start on Monday. I'm really proud of myself for having taken care of myself these past few weeks, so that I can continue taking care of myself while back at work. It was really nice to be able to get up early enough to exercise, eat breakfast, shower, get ready, AND get to work on time! Exercising first thing in the morning is surprisingly energizing for me. Who would have thought?! Work or no work (I tend to be a workaholic), I can still take care of this body I've been given. I love having this challenge, because I feel like not only am I exercising "for me" (a rather nebulous goal), but am also accountable to the challenge (a more quantitative goal).

Hey Deb, How are you feeling? Did your surgery go ok? Are you up and about now? You're so right about the screenings being important--I'm glad your pre-cancerous spots were caught early. I've been keeping the bike seat warm (exercise bike) and biked a few extra pedals for you. Looking forward to you rejoining us Early Bird Girls!

astera, First let me say "Congratulations" and next let me ask "HOW?!" Was your highest weight on your ticker your weight at surgery? Because if it was, that means you lost about 1 lb. a day (the last person I met who had lost 1 lb. a day had had RYN bypass surgery--you had the band, right?). That's a far cry from the "1.5-2 lbs. a week" my doctor advised. What did you weigh on your surgery day?

Yes, I decided to get .5cc--my doctor said that would be fine. I'm tighter than I've ever been (maybe like right after surgery?). It's ok--I just have to be a lot more careful to take smaller bites and to eat slowly. If I don't do either, then I'm really sorry--ouch! My husband and I always go out for dinner the night before I have to go back to work. Last night we went to an Indian restaurant (my favorite!). I had a wonderful dinner! I just had to follow the eating rules. I left the restaurant feeling "just right." I'm happy with my extra .5cc.

ellea, Here's a link to a tutorial (with pictures) to help guide you through every step--I know I needed to look at it when I made my ticker. Glad you're on board! :w00t: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Thanks, but in all fairness, after I thought about it, I had included Saturday's miles in too--so 8 days instead of 7--I guess I should actually have posted 43.3 miles done (still 1.3 miles over goal for the week).

Yes, Jenai, 5cc seems to be a pretty good spot for me. I have an appointment for a fill on Monday. I can't decide if I need one or not. I don't want to be too tight, but I also don't want to go through "Bandster Hell" again--that was awful! Maybe a little fill like .5 cc just to keep the edge off until my next fill? I'll see what my doctor thinks. Sorry to hear about you having to return to the hospital, but glad that everything worked out for you. Good luck with 5ccs!

No, no picture. I think I prefer the image I have in my mind to the real thing anyway.

Week 1 49.3 miles done 130.7 miles to go *1.3 miles over goal for week one!

jujuvee, Way to go! You're right on track to make your goal! 15X4=60 If I'm remembering right, last month you got a late start and still passed your 50-mile goal! Raising the bar is a good thing. You can do it!

Yeah! You can do it, 2911! :scared2: (Hope the workshop was a good one.) Willow

cat, Isn't it funny how we can think of ways to bypass the band?! I figured out early that if I wanted to, I could keep eating slowly and eat as much as my mind said it wanted to eat. But that's not why I got the band, so I told myself that that was not a good plan and that it wasn't any different than eating a lot of slider foods. Giving yourself a time limit to eat a meal is a good idea. Good for you for thinking of it! :scared2:

I came across this a few days ago, and it really helped me to feel more energized today--while I was riding my exercise bike at 5:00 am (I just kept saying it to myself over and over)! It's a positive affirmation from Dr. Dyer's new book, Excuses Begone. I am passionate about my life, and that passion fills me with enthusiasm and energy!