Zannie

Babygrl, you will totally make this 5K -- I know it! Who said you have to WIN it??? You can do this!!! Even if you don't run the whole thing, you'll run most of it. It's not an over-night plan, and you're working your butt off (litterally) to get'er done. I already know you will, but I need to just say: keep plugging along! You've got a goal, and you'll meet it! Don't give up on yourself! It's not July yet! The race is still a couple of weeks off. (Oh no...Backyardigans refrain playing in my head now -- :note2:Racing Day, It's racing day! It's not lazy pacing da-a-aaaay! Today's the day we race! )

Yea, hooray! I've feel so isolated without y'all! How friggin' SAD is that?!? But LBT is my WLS outlet & apparently I need it more than I realized! My bandiversary was on Friday ~ AND ~ I hit my 50# goal on the same day! I'm now no longer SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE (just your run-of-the mill Morbid Obesity here)!! Friday was a pretty monumental day & I couldn't get in to LBT!! I was going crazy... Exercise...assuming I do my workout tonight (busy evening of ferrying DH's car to the shop), I'm still on track for the month! (Calm down. I wouldn't want y'all to faint at my announcement! :heh:) Just 5 more work-outs & I will meet the Level 1 target! Hope y'all are doing well... And that you're all finally able to get on-line at LBT, too! Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 10 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

Argh...:angry I just wrote out this whole long post, and it appears to have vanished upon "preview"... :noidea: How annoying. I'm off to the treadmill now for my 30 minutes (35, really)! :high5: Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 7 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

Ditto! I'm exactly 4-months post-op, but also have 7.2cc in my VG band. I had a fill 2 weeks ago (which was 2 weeks after my prior fill!), and I really thought that was "the one"... But now I'm again able to eat more than 1 cup of protein at meals (though I try not to prepare more so I won't EAT more). And I'm hungry between lunch & dinner, and hungry again before bedtime. I really thought I'd hit that sweet spot for about 2 weeks there... My next fill is set for July 5th, and I feel like it'll be a mistake to wait that long in terms of weight loss progress. But I don't wanna max out my band this early in the game!!!!!! Do we have any long-term VG Banders among us who could provide some feedback/encouragement?

How are we doing ladies? I'm just off the treadmill, and about to have a bowl of splenda-sweetened, low-fat mint-chip ice cream! :hungry: I was sure I'd gotten to good restriction after that 3rd fill (7.2 in a 10cc band). I haven't been hungry between meals, a string cheese stick fills me up for lunch...things have been going great. Until tonight. dinner (a South Beach Diet TV dinner - as recommend by Becky, the dietitian at WLSC) didn't do it -- I could totally have kept eating had there been more food prepared. That's a first since Fill #3, so I guess I'm not done yet. I'm disappointed that I'll be needing another fill, but...well, that's okay. I'm still loosing (down 5 more #), still exercising (though I have to force myself), and still watching what I eat (avoiding sugar & liquid calories). My 4-month bandiversary is on Friday & I'm down 45#... I have never had this kind of success with any diet before, and I've never stuck -really stuck - to a diet this strictly for this long! I'm so glad I did this insane thing to my insides! :biggrin1:

Hope y'all are doing well!! I'm so not motivated, but I'm about to go workout now -- before a small bowl of Splenda sweetened, low fat mint-chip ice cream. :hungry: And on that note... For the 1st time since fill #3, I finished dinner still hungry. Humph. I was really hoping that was the fill...but I guess not. I'm at 7.2 in a 10cc band. My next fill is supposed to be July 5th, and I guess I'll be there after all! :straight Oh well. How tight is this thing gonna get?!? BabyGrl, what does good restriction feel like?!? I really thought I was there, but I could certainly have kept eating tonight. How are you doing with food, in detail? What are you eating, are you hungry afterward, do you fee hungry between meals? Compare now to pre-op, if you will? Oh, and I was a big REO Speedwagon fan in my youth!

TravelGirl, I'm with you on not being excited to work out! It's not awful while I'm doing it (or at least the treadmill isn't, I'm still not sure about the strength training:p), but the starting of it is the problem. I don't wannnnnna!!!!!! Of course, that has always BEEN my problem! :heh: I wish I could hit a high like you have, BabyGrl! I fantasize myself becoming enamored by fitness & running around town 2 years from now all trim & fit wearing leggings & a sports bra (well, something's gotta lift & hold the girls in place because they're now flat as pancakes & drooping to the ground -- all my weight loss is from my boobs & hands:paranoid)! But at this rate, that ain't gonna happen!!!! The only way to make your dreams come true is to stop DREAMING and go DO IT!!!! That's the advice I'd give anyone else, but I cannot seem to convince myself that exercising is an exciting part of this journey! :phanvan As a side-note, the storm got so bad last night that Relay-For-Life was abandoned... (I hope that's not how the cancer patients feel this morning!) I was pumped to go and put in an hour on the track (2 miles -- not that I have EVER done that before), but NOT pumped enough to get on the treadmill & do the same once I got word not to come to the relay! :straight Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 5 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

Ya know, I'm kinda looking at the amethyst as a sort of "wedding ring" -- a symbol & reminder of my commitment to my health & the LapBand. I do have a 50# goal in mind (which is about 2 weeks away, I presume) before buying it, but that's mostly because I'm odd about spending money on myself without a "justification" for it! :target: I can "justify" a reward, but not just a "random" jewelry purchase. :rolleyes :girl_hug: I've been poking around eBay & TJ Maxx/Marshalls to see what kind of amethyst selection is out there. I've found some cute & affordable pieces, too. I think I'm leaning toward a bracelet, because my nearly 2yo DD loves to pull on my necklaces & earrings, and my ring size is in flux! :laugh I love that y'all liked the idea of commemorating the Band with February's birthstone! Perhaps we are a bunch a of Amethyst Bandits! :bandit Suzanne

Janine -- congratulations on your surgery! :clap2: I found the 1st 2 weeks to be the hardest, mostly because of the blasted Protein shakes & knowing I couldn't deviate from liquids. I wasn't really hungry so much as I wanted to CHEW something! I bought VitaBalls (gumball viatamns)at Farm Fresh just to have SOMETHING to CHEW -- 2 a day even! :biggrin1: Everything after those 1st 2 weeks has been down hill! Stay on top of your pain meds, so that it doesn't catch up with you once you're really feeling much better. They give you an Rx for a reason! Walk, walk, walk!! And especially if you were given a tool to do so, breathe, breathe, breathe! You can do this!!! My DH was thin when we met (in Jr. High) and only put on weight with my 1st pregnancy (14 years later). We dieted together -- he lost apx. 55 lbs, which was about 5 short of his goal; I lost 30 in the same time-frame, roughly 150 short of my goal! :phanvan So I'm there with you in having a partner who just doesn't get that "exercise more" ain't cuttin' it!!! But what's done is done now. His opinion doesn't mater when it comes to what's right for YOUR health, correct? I know -- hard to not consider it, but really, if his way of seeing things isn't helping you, then you've got to ignore it for now, becasue it's only going to hurt you. He's got no choice but to come around eventually! :target::biggrin1: AND he's gonna see that you ARE exercising -- that's a vital aspect to this working, after all. The band only controls your portion size. We've still got to get off our own butts. They go hand in hand, which is something NOT emphasized in the media coverage about WLS. The easy way out - phaa! :girl_hug: I've never had to work so hard at sticking to a diet & exercise program as I've had to with this!! But that's the whole point -- nothing else could I NOT quit when I hit a plateau, or got sick, or was under stress, or was PMSing, etc!!! We've not only got to be aware of every single morsel we eat (not for fat or calories, but because we have to chew deliberately), and exercise (like I've never exercised before), but we also have to reevaluate & retrain our reactions to the things that used to send us straight for comfort food!!! You can do this, girl! :high5: And everyone at LBT is with & behind you in your efforts!!! So when DH is being a pain, come here! When dinner (or in my case breakfast) looks too good to resist, come here while he/they eat! When you just don't feel like exercising, come here & find an exercise thread to get inspired! It's a long road ahead, but think of the journey we're on!!! I say YEA US for making such a huge commitment to our heath -- for putting ourselves first for a change -- and for doing it!!!!! And YEA YOU -- you're in BANDLAND now!

I'm (supposed to be) off to walk the midnight lap at our local Relay For Life (cancer awareness) in about an hour. But a huge electric storm has settled over my area, so I'm not sure how this is going to play out. My mom (a support person) & our long-time neighbor (fighting uterine cancer now) have been there since 3pm, so I really want to go show my support. May this storm pass soon! What a crappy day it has been for this Relay -- 102 was the high & now an electric storm. Ugh. Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 5 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

I'm not quite sure what you're looking for when you say "substitute" for creamer, but maybe this'll help. I love creamy, sweet coffee -- with or without added flavors. What I do now is add Caffeine-Free Sugar-Free General Foods International "Vanilla Creme" to hot or cold coffee. It is not a coffee mix, but a vanilla drink like hot cocoa is a chocolate drink. Adding it to coffee makes the coffee really creamy and sweet at the same time. Click here for the nutrition label! Since it is a powder, you could just keep it at your desk. I also use the Sugar Free International Delight or Coffee Mate liquid coffee creamers in my hot or iced coffee, but in those are liquids & thus not handy, I'm not sure that it would help your situation much. Good luck & let me know if you find something wonderful! Suzanne

I use Vanilla DaVinci syrup all the time. It's pretty universal -- anything that'd be good with a creamy background can be mixed with the Vanilla. In the old days, I added the vanilla or cherry flavors to Coke - love a Vanilla or Cherry Coke, but can't stand cola straight up at all. Now I improve the flavor of vanilla protein powder by adding Vanilla DaVinci. I also put the vanilla in the orange samples I tried (universally disgusting) to make a more creamy Creamsicle flavor. And I toned down the more overpowering, chalky chocolate samples with the vanilla syrup. Oh -- add the caramel one to chocolate or vanilla or coffee protein powders for a sweet drink! Plus, to Syntrax Nectar Roadside Lemonade (gag!), I add the raspberry syrup to make a Raspberry Lemonade. It's not strong enough to overpower that whey taste all the Syntrax Nectars have, but it makes that particular one palatable. Helpful Hints: A) DaVinci Syrups don't need to be refrigerated. They have a 2-year "best by" shelf-life from date of manufacture (but you can continue to use them after this date though the flavor's strength will diminish with time). C) For around $5, you can get the large 750ml/25oz size in the gourmet section of TJ Maxx/Marshals.

Tell me, what does this stuff smell like? I seem to be allergic to everything nowadays. That wasn't always the case, but most lotions and perfumes now make me sneeze. But maybe something that gets rinsed off in the shower after putting it on would help with the allergies...? My skin is ALWAYS dry!!! It's something I've learned to live with since lotions started to bother me, but I'd love to find a product that works.

Wallygirl -- we have the same Band Date! :high5:

Okay, ladies...announcment time! :attention: My foot is still killing me (haven't gone to the doc yet ), and the treadmill isn't helping, so I could either sit back and do nothing (my normal reaction), or try a different tack to keep up with my exercising. And try something new I did! :biggrin1: In an effort to stem the tide of flappy, floppy skin (already presenting at 40 lbs down, with 160 still to go), I have begun my strength training program. Really. I have!! Now, in addition to the treadmill or other walking, I will be doing "the 7 pillars of strength" courtesy of Body By Jake. (Don't laugh -- we are confessed infomercial junkies here. :heh:) I plan to do 3 or 4 days of treadmill walking (running, if I can ever convince myself to start the Couch-to-5K which I had my DH print & laminate at work) alternated with 3 days of strength training on the Gravity Force. That's the plan anyhow... We'll see how well I stick to it as the month progresses. But the point is that this Gravity Force Trainer has been sitting here - untouched by my fat a$$ for 2 months, and now I have begun to use it! Yea, me! Wallygirl123, SkinnyJeans & Magii, it's so good to hear from y'all! :clap2: Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 4 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

TravelGirl, I'm class of '92 as well -- went to H.S. in Bellevue, NE (AirForce Brat), where I started dating DH at the ripe old age of 16 years! Have you always been heavy, or is this an "adult onset" situation? I was average weight until puberty & then I stopped growing taller in 5th grade & kept growing out! I was a tight 14/ loose 16 in high school. And I haven't regularly worked out since 9th grade gym!!! This is a HUGE change to my lifestyle, and I'm really not liking it at all! I had hoped by now I'd crave the physical activity...like some crazy people I know!! But that has yet to become the case! Still, I'm off to do workout #4....... I agree, BabyGrl, that we ought to perpetuate these challenges every month! If only I had one single competitive bone in my body... I like the accountability!!!!

Have y’all thought of getting “something sparkly” to commemorate your LapBand? Having been banded in February, and because the amethyst is February’s birthstone... I’m thinking I’d like a piece of amethyst jewelry. I’ve seen amethyst set both silver & gold, and it’s a very affordable semi-precious stone. And I’m leaning toward a necklace or bracelet, since my ring size has already gone down with only 40 of my 200 pounds gone! But what style? A journey or circle pendant? Or maybe something more artsy with smooth rather than faceted stones? Perhaps a stretchy chip bracelet that’ll adjust as I continue to loose…? I’ve got a few weeks still to decide, but a piece of amethyst will be my reward at 50 pounds! It’s not so much that I’m a huge fan of the purple quartz, as it is to mark me as a February Bandster, or ~if you will~ an Amethyst Bandit! :bandit

Magii -- haven't heard from you in a few days! How's it going?

Oh, TravelGirl, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad... I was wondering how we'd managed to loose you in the transition to June, but I didn't imagine tragedy. I wish there was more I could do or say as I'm sure my "so sorry" doesn't help you any, but I do hope you're able to find comfort in our company as you grapple with your pain & greif... Welcome to June's exercise challenge. Pick your level & hop on! Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 3 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 3 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

I've somehow hurt my foot...you ought to see me wobbling around! But wobble I did today so as to get in my exercise. Like a friggin' Weeble, I swear! Hopefully I won't pay for it tomorrow, and a visit to Urgent Care is in order to figure out what I've done to myself now... But the point is that PAIN & ALL, I got in my 1/2 hour! Yea, ME! :star: Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 2 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

My goodness...Onederland, here you come, Babygrl! You go!!! :clap2: And 4 miles at work -- what the hey diddle diddle?!? I can't even imagine that! It still takes me just about half an hour to do a mile, at the briskest pace I can manage. :straight That'd be a 2 hour venture. OK - tell me more about this "couch to K" thing you're doing? Do you have a link to something you printed out, or what? Not that I'm THAT motivated, but I wanna be!!!! :biggrin1: You are such a exercise inspiration! And you know damn well that I'm in need of some major inspiring. Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 1 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

Janine -- I've heard of many bypass people who have the gallbladder removed when they get their band. But I was told that removing it at the same time as banding is risky because of the bile(?) that can leak from the gallbladder. Or something like that -- it's too late for medical speak! But you know what I mean! When I 1st looked into banding several years ago, a staff member (at a clinic other than where I ended up going) told me that if I had gallbladder issues, the doc could bill the anesthesia, surgical suite, hospital stay, and most of the surgeon fees to my INS under gallbladder removal -- and I'd only have to pay for the band itself & a small portion of the surgeon’s fee. It sounded like a brilliant plan, but then the doc said that only was an option for bypass not banding due to the bile... You should think about asking your LapBand surgeon's opinion since thoughts on this subject may differ. Anyhow...sorry for the set back! Keep positive...and focus on what you can do NOW to improve your health. This could (ha!) even be a blessing – get your house & habits in order and start transitioning to all those good banding habits that you’ll need soon enough! (Yeah, I try to be a silver lining girl.) Hang in there, Janine! Suzanne

Gina -- That was me, the crazy one with 2 kiddies & my mother in tow! While we were talking, you mentioned LBT & I wondered if you were someone I knew on-line. What odd situations this Internet business can create. Strangers, and yet... :wave: Hope you're doing well with that 1st fill. I've got major restriction now with this 3rd one. Like never before -- not even right after surgery! But I'm not having any trouble with Soup, Water or shakes (all that I've tried thus far), so I'm hoping I'm at a good place with 7.2cc in the VG-10cc band. I'll start mushies tomorrow for dinner (48 hours after fill) with my fingers crossed. I remember being full on 1/4 c. of refried Beans topped with melted cheese & sour cream when I was 1st banded. That little food hasn't filled me up in quite a while... I know it's wishful thinking on my part, but I can't help hoping that I've hit that fabled "sweet spot" with this fill!

Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 1 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)<!-- google_ad_section_end -->