Pinkylee

Melissa: Ditto on the calorie intake. Carbs too--those darn mashed potatoes. Inches lost are more fun than weight on the scale--because you get more compliments! I've gotten some nice comments this week--water and exercise. Count me in for everything. I live South of Houston, Texas--but I'll go anywhere! Barb's idea of each of us setting our own goal may be best. Percentages are good, but --- I want to lose, but nothing more than 8 pounds a month--at 55 you have to watch out for wrinkles if you lose too quickly. It can get ugly. I'm not anxious for the Joan Rivers look. TT and boobs, arms--yes--but Lord, please let me keep the same face! My eyes and neck are already showing more wrinkles. I put on so much face cream this week I got a zit. Regarding Water challenge--I think you should be able to "catch up" posting if you need to. Some days we just can't log on--but we still need the incentive (at least I do). Hooray for Junebies! You are pure therapy for me. I don't feel like I'm doing this all by myself any more!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Is it my brain or my vision? Chako Lady--WAY TO GO--smooth skin here we come! Think I'll give up and sign off!

Cindy--Congrats on your water too--sorry I missed you.

Made my water goal close to the midnight hour! Yikes--Leila you're killin' me with this new challenge (Thanks!) So happy to hear Leila about your spa day--a day to remember! WMS (Aimee) Congrats on the try--50 ounces is not a bad showing for what we probably consumed in the past. Barb has also met her water goal. Off the subject--but is anyone losing much in their waiste? :help: Mine seems to be losing at a much slower rate than the rest of my body.

Chako Lady: Congrats on a great weight loss. This is my favorite thread--hands down. We have Melissa Lea to thank for beginning this thread and keeping it going! Way to go Melissa:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

:update: - H20 Challenge The winner is: LEILA: IS OUR WINNER She met the challenge and posted each day. She also lost 2.5 pounds (an increase over her usual 1.5 to 2 pound average) Pinkylee: Posted 6 days and had the energy to increase exercise. CindyCam: Posted 5 days. One day she drank 100 ounces of pure Water (and was water logged) Poodles: Posted 3 days HKimber: Posted 2 days Barbara465: Posted 2 days and lost 2 pounds--higher than her usual for the week Chakolady: Posted 1 day The fact is--it ain't easy--but we're on the way to forming an important new habit. READ LEILA'S post last night regarding a favorite article on drinking water. Loose skin--who needs it? IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN THE WATER CHALLENGE, SIMPLY BEGIN EACH THURSDAY MORNING. DRINK 64 OUNCES OF Fluid WITH AT LEAST 32 BEING PURE WATER. ADD THE BLUE SMILEY FACE :biggrin1: TO YOUR SIGNATURE LINE FOR EACH DAY THAT YOU MEET THE GOAL. DON'T "GUESS"--COUNT EMPTY BOTTLES, FILL A CONTAINER IN THE MORNING OF YOUR REQUIRED INTAKE AND FINISH IT, OR MARK IT IN A JOURNAL. ON WEDNESDAY, LET US KNOW IF YOU THOUGHT THE WATER HELPED. CLEAR YOUR BLUE SMILEY'S FOR WEEK ONE AND WE'LL BEGIN A WHOLE NEW WEEK THIS MORNING.

Today I'm really going to journal all day! 35 Coffee Water (16 oz.)

Today I'm really going to journal all day! 35 Coffee Water (16 oz.)

Leila: Great article!

Fill was 2 wks this Friday. I did tighten one week later and now I feel like I have very little restriction. By the time I make appt. it will probably be 2 weeks b4 I can get in--I can always cancel if I tighten up again. Had some tummy swelling and it still hasn't gone down much. Probably should check that too. I'm sooo afraid of a stretched pouch. I'm sold on the Water thing. Without you guys to be accountable to--I'd still be chugging iced tea and very little water.

Down One C: 219.5 (-1 for this wk) Total -25

Water challenge is over at midnight tonight. I'll review your posts and let you know tomorrow how we did. Thanks for getting involved. I don't know if it was the water or increased vitamins, but I have the energy to exercise again. Barb thinks water may have helped her lose 2 pounds this week. Any other testimonials--be truthful--if you feel like you're floating--let us know that too! Aimee: So happy for you. Proud for you. Amazing control over a powerful pull. Now for the bad news--my fill just isn't cutting it. I've been hungry and having small snacks every few hours. Hate to admit it--it's fill time.

Aimee: Try replacing the m&m's with a lo-cal snack--something easy to grab. Borden lite cheese (2% milkfat) (sandwich slice)--50 calories with a few pickle slices or olives diet jello cup with a dab of lite cool whip 10 calories Slice of lo fat lunch meat with a fruit cup (no sugar added) 75 calories Thin slices of bananas sprinkled with a hint of raw sugar (tastes like maple) I broke a chocolate habit I had with lite hot chocolate several years ago. I like swiss miss--it has lots of calcium in it and 70 calories--no bitter after-taste. Just think--at some point, we won't need or want to munch (I hope):hungry:

Dancing Queen: Have you had a fill yet? I sure wouldn't until you quit losing steadily. You have the dream band situation!

Anyone try couscous? I've seen postings on problems with grits, but I can't find anything on couscous. I know to keep it in very small amounts due to calories, but is it a big PB or golfball culprit like rice or grits sometimes are?:confused:

Leila-- Your welcome. Congrats on the H20 challenge! I think you may be our only perfect record so far! Good luck on the fill! Barb-- What's so bad about 100 calories of a treat eaten slowly? I'm a sneaky treat eater. (If no one sees me--the calories don't count) Even Spiegel allows a dish of ice cream occasionally. Oreos would be a better choice for me. I can eat a lot more than 100 calories in "melty mushies".

Congrats to all who are working on H20 challenge. My water consumption is way up. I bought some B complex sublingual liquid (at Walmart--less than 6 bucks for 59 doses). I think it's helped my energy level. Note to self: Get the water in earlier in the day--I met myself coming and going to the bathroom last night! We are definitely going thru "it" adjusting to fills/no fills, etc. Some days we're tight--some days not. Some days weird pain. Seems like stress (good and bad) cause me to tighten. The only thing that helps is to lay down away from everyone until the pain passes. Have a good day. Maybe our next challenge should be a "nap" a day challenge.:notagree

Cindy Your b4 and after pics are great. Your loss is really noticable. Mine will be posted as soon as we get our camera back from friend's car! We saw friends we hadn't seen in 25 years Saturday. Guess who had gained the most? Also got a comment from someone who needs to lose a lot--"we've decided to accept the way we are--it's more real that way". Yup! Real high blood pressure, real sore feet, real embarrasment when you break a chair. I haven't been loyal to band rules this weekend. Turning over a new leaf. I'm glad to be REALLY healthy for a change!

Melissa: Spiegel has us go by ounces. 4 - 6 ounces each meal. Sounds pitifully small--but it's actually a lot if you weigh it out. Especially if you think of deck of cards = meat (3 oz.) I'll bet you had 3 ounces if that--. Good for you! Unfortunately, if I have to wait too long to eat I'm sure I eat more than six ounces. I have this nagging fear in the back of my head that says I'm stretching the pounch and that's why I'm swollen. Which lean cuisines do you think are best?

Good for you Melissa. Are you hungry between meals? I'm having some problems today. My stomach is swollen--my family noticed it yesterday. I feel like I have a stitch in my side. Guess I'm tightening even more today. Called doc and they said it was the fill and I may need to have some removed. Anyone experience swelling when their fill was new or tightening up? Right now even liquids are moving slowly and I feel a slight golf ball when I drink.

This morning I've done the usual laundry, beds, etc. Cleaning shower stall and door Weeding flower bed

This morning I've done the usual laundry, beds, etc. Cleaning shower stall and door Weeding flower bed

Barb said something today that made me realize I need to journal activity and food. If we don't, how will we know what tirggers problems? AM Coffee with coffeemate and l/2T raw sugar 35 Slimfast 190 Yogurt Activia Blueberry 90 Tea with peach flavor 0:biggrin1: Bite of mango 5

Barb said something today that made me realize I need to journal activity and food. If we don't, how will we know what tirggers problems? AM Coffee with coffeemate and l/2T raw sugar 35 Slimfast 190 Yogurt Activia Blueberry 90 Tea with peach flavor 0:biggrin1: Bite of mango 5

Barb What a good case for journaling! I see your point on the Water challenge. If we never reach for goals, we attain very little.