Pinkylee

Avilla Proceed with caution on that. There have been some serious side effects to it--however it does have merit among many in the holistic community. I do not tolerate modern science meds and must lean heavily on holistic so you won't hear a nay from me. There is a cleanse "diet" where you eat fruits and veggies for a few days. My DD tried it and it did work for her. Take care.

Some of you may have read posts from MaryB (Houston). I recently read one of hers on another forum. She's nearly at goal and her doc will be working with her soon on how to maintain with increasingly less of a fill. There is an end in sight. Gives me cause to think that putting up with a fill if it helps me lose quicker, might not be so bad. Common sense prevails, of course, but I'm proud of you Barbara's for braving this last fill. Hang in there if it's prudent. I'm thinking about you and wishing you well. Same to Regina and Carol and any others I may have forgotten who have recently gotten a fill. If I weren't such a chicken, :nervous I'd have gotten a fill long ago. Most days I'm hungry and eat too often. A few days a week, I'm quite tight. It's those "few days" that scare me away. A whole new world that will be much more "normal" with no spit cups is waiting for us. We can (and will) do this!

Great NSV Socalgal. You are an inspiration. Good luck Barbara on fill today. Let us know how you're doing. Have a great week everybody.

I prefer Campbell Selects or split pea. Don't know if it's a cheat or not, but I add velveeta cheese since it melts to liquid. Don't like canned cheese soup at all. Congrats on your amazing loss thus far. Keep up the good work.

I was thinking today how much more control I have over food than in the past. Pain is part of it, being too tight to eat, but something else keeps me from downing pudding cups, shakes and ice cream by the gallon. I suppose it's because I no longer get a "boost" from food. Getting another fill when I'm on and off again "tight" seems a little crazy. Dumber yet would be to ignore the advantages of a smaller appetite that the fills usually bring. Will Thanksgiving and upcoming holidays spell disaster for us? Let's begin posting "Holiday NSV's". My first Holiday NSV came today. I'm looking forward to rolling into bed Thanksgiving evening with an empty pouch and a nice bottle of water on the nightstand. It's hard to fall asleep stuffed to the gills.

Barbara465 Yeah for you! Numbers on the scale really don't mean much if we can't button those jeans! Regarding exercise, try marching in place during a TV show. Shake a leg. You know you can! There's a beautiful harvest moon out tonight. Is anyone else as tight as I am?

Lisa99 THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I was discouraged to see the same number this am that I've seen for 3 weeks despite trying really hard to lose the weight. I was even considering changing my exercise routine to walking for fear I might be building too much "heavy" muscle. Duh! I'm in a size 16 jean--all brands. Size 16 jeans have been a top goal since I was banded. It hardly seemed a victory with the scales stuck at 202. I can almost taste onderland and I let it get the best of me. NO MORE A SLAVE TO THE SCALE! Onderland will be nice, but not as nice as the next smaller size.

:update: Regina 7 7 5 (19) Total 60 Genn 7 1 2 (10) Total 44 Barbara4 7 4 3 (14) Total 60 Pinkylee 6 5 4 (15) Total 63 For some reason, October seemed to be the month to "go with the flow". The challenge wasn't much of an incentive for most of us. Overall, we did well with water consumption and not a bad showing for counting calories. It's the dreaded "e" word that most of us have difficulty with. I'd like to suggest that we post information regarding exercise whenever you run across some new tidbit. I've noticed it takes longer and longer to get my heart rate up with my usual routine. I decided to start my routine with a burst of high intensity after I was warmed up (on our eliptical machine). It seemed to keep my heart rate up even after I rejoined the walking DVD. My theory is that I will burn more calories if I start sweating earlier in the routine. I'm not anxious to go longer. I think it was Carol124 that inspired me with her new stair stepping routine (and losing a few pounds)

Sweetviolet, wow! Get better soon. Cindycam - not hungrier after 2nd fill, but I quit losing steadily after my second, so I'm avoiding the next. Sounds like head hunger. Is your tummy growling? Christa94, Congratulations on nuptuals and a great honeymoon. Who wants to remember their honeymoon cruise by saying, "I stayed within the lapband rules"? Glad you're back at it, but make sure to leave room for being a newlywed. Glad the board is back up!

Regina, I really let my guard down and I had about five of the snack size skittles and now I'm done. A little let-down from the mini vacation. I'm ready for a fresh start. Get better Melissa.

I'm in beautiful California visiting my sister and family. She has a view to envy and I'm headed out to read a book. Did I mention that Californian's like their wine? Carol, I'm curious. What is your exercise program that jumpstarted your loss? AFter this weekend, I may need it.

Ditto Jack

:update: Stats for week 3 of Oct Challenge Regina 7 5 4 (16) Total 41 Genn 7 2 1 (10) Total 34 Barbara4 7 4 3 (14) Total 42 Pinkylee 7 7 3 (17) Total 48 I detect a recurring theme. The fills may have been a b----, but we're gaining control over intake (no one said it had to be fish and spinach) Anyone else out there who would like to enter stats? Please PM or better yet post and let us know how you're doing - hearing from you helps all of us. THE LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER CHALLENGE BEGAN ON SUNDAY. P.S. I took DH up on buying another blouse and retiring the stripes tshirt to housekeeping. Thanks Barbara465 for reminding me that DH thought the blouse was frumpy--not me.

LOL. That's one way to cure the wardrobe delimma Barbara. I guess I have one similar. I bought a coat two years ago that was really too small. I had forgotten about it because I never wore it. I found it Saturday and it fit with plenty of room to spare. I'm set for the winter in the coat department. I have another distressing story. DH complained that I "looked frumpy" this weekend. I bought some cheap 3/4 sleeve v-necks at Penny's and a few pairs of pants to last thru this next size. I was delighted to be able to wear a regular XL t-shirt. I never left the house in a tshirt or any knit top before banding. I'm sticking to my guns on this one. My body isn't "great", but I don't worry about my fat rolls any more. They are definitely still there, but much smaller. I'm looking forward to buying the next smaller size be it in a month or 3 months and these few things I have will do nicely. I overdid it in the treat department this Sunday. Did anyone say "heart hunger" out there?

Yeah for Leila. So happy for your good news.

Houston Area Junebies Barbara465 and I are meeting for lunch at the downtown Ninfa's on Tuesday, Oct 24 at noon. Please pm Barbara or I for details. We'd love to meet you IRL. Nothing formal--just a chat and chew (and chew and chew).

Cathy Thanks for the stats. It feels almost unreal to be so close to onderland. My weight loss has picked up lately for some unknown reason. I've increased exercise intensity, but have also missed more days due to illness, etc. I thought about trying to cut way back on calories and increase exercise, and then I started hearing myself say "tomorrow, I'm going to..." just liike I did in the old Weight watcher's day. Two weeks or two months, I'll get there.

Jana you should post your triumph ride on the NSV thread if you haven't already. I'm praying you will make your next goal for the OK ride, but you will get there regardless of the timing. Lisa depression is a toughy. I excused myself from exercise yesterday to do much needed chores. I had the depression aches last night. Exercise has always been helpful for my depression (tried every med--doesn't help), but in the last few months if I miss a day, I sure know it by evening. My increased energy level is definitely helping in this process.

Barbara12 I fight myself all the time over losing more weight. My excuses? I'll wrinkle, I'll be sickly, I'll lose my cheerful, round face, plump people are more pleasant, smile more. I'm learning more about myself every day that I can't hide behind food and fat Some of it, I don't like. A lot of it I'm afraid of. It's been an interesting trip. At the end of all this, the real me will have to emerge.

Beachee, Sorry about my redundent comment. What you're going thru is tough enough without having to re-explain yourself. Lisa, Welcome. When you go to "edit signature" I've found that if you click on the icon that looks like a stamped letter, delete the http that's there and then hit Control V you can easily copy your ticker from the factory.

It's good to know that the weather change could be causing problems. I don't like being tighter, but it will pass and I love the cooler weather we're getting in the Houston area. Genn and Beachee Girl, Perhaps there needs to be a special recognition for bandsters who continue to follow the rules although losing slowly or not at all. If you continue to plateau, perhaps you should check with an endocrinologist. A journal would be invaluable to you and your health professioal. Cathy, Good move on the fill decision and good luck with the first fill. No more fills for me unless I am 100% positive it will be helpful. A new NSV for me. I just realized that I'm learning how to handle my emotional stresses in a much more positive way. Food was a bandaid for my depression that never promoted healing. I'm facing demons I ran from before. No where to hide now--unless it's LBT.com!

I just spent a wonderful hour playing my piano that's resting on our new wood floor. It reminded me of my grand I had to sell when we moved from Michigan. I feel better right now than I have in a long time. What's your best one hour get away?

Cathy I love to hear about famous people with real issues. Makes me feel less geeky. Anyone ever worry about boulemia being banded? I never wanted to throw up before band. Now if I get a really painful golfball, I walk around outside. I can't go near a bathroom with a golf ball without throwing up. Preband--almost never. Have you always been unfilled? Sorry, I can't remember what your history is.

Barbara The Junebies thread is about keeping it real. I'm having lots of episodes lately after a relatively quiet few weeks. Wish I'd kept a better journal. Seems like my last episodes were after I had a 2 pound loss (overnight). I can no longer blame them totally on fast eating. I don't mean to pry, but have you ever read that many bandsters PB on scrambled eggs. I'm about 50-50 in the egg department. One day I can eat them, the next day I can't. Eggs over easy have never been a bother. Quite frankly, since my last fill didn't keep me from hunger pains and definitely seemed to coincide with a slower weight loss, I'm waiting until I'm not losing and not PBing so frequently for another fill. Hunger pains signal a nice glass of iced tea for me these days.

After a PB episode I am usually wiped out for about an hour. Don't know how people do this working outside the home. I will do better if I stay on my feet. Walking seems to help. Warm liquids too after I've PB'd some of the slime.