OH Juli

Charles I suppose I'm an old timer at this point as I was banded in 07. Seems like you've gotten an ear full, I won't add to what has been said aside from I eat pretty much everything in moderation. There are few things I don't such as grapes because chewing the skins are a pain in the butt. Skins on peppers, apples and potatoes tend to be tricky. All the simple white carbs go down, but only a bit at a time and they don't fuel me well so I avoid them. I think you find more women than men on this forum because men don't engage in weight loss as much as women and they don't generally need the community support like women do. You'd probably find the same ratios at a Weight Watcher's meeting. Good luck to you, Please use LBT to determine what's right for you.

What they all said. That sounds just completely wrong. It's not a race it's about learning to eat differently in way that will keep you healthy and sane for the rest of your life.

Gwen, Look at you go so close to goal! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I really appreciate them. I have to say I've seen renewed weight loss recently because well, I started behaving like someone who wants to lose weight. Not behaving like someone who was resting on her laurals while at the same time talking like she wasn't. So nice of you to notice. I really do want to get to goal sometime in January. Or where I'm at in January will be goal. LOL. Rock that vacation chica. I have one more hellish week of Finance then I get a week off. We are taking the little one to Disney during that week off. I also took the remaining two days not in Florida off from work, because I want a VACATION. There's a huge wine attached to that!!!!!!!! Have a good weekend everyone. See you on the Marchies' August pages! :biggrin:

LBT- That's no fun, but what more can you do but take care of what needs to be taken care of. Fooey... here's to a speedy recovery! J

Yo Jody!!!! It's so good to see you here. Like D says, you'll get it under control very soon. How's the GF?

CMT- Good description. In less genteel words, it's the hair covered triangle of your private area you see when standing, looking in the mirror. And in my world when I pick up my droopy tummy skin. Often when a woman loses a bunch of weight and needs a panniculectomy (cutting off the skin) and tummy tuck (tightening up the muscle wall), she may very need to have the excess skin of her mons removed because it got fatty while she got heavy and it loses tone gets loose as she drops weight. So yeah, I'm signing up for a mons lift with all the other plastic surgery I'm going to get next year....

Yeah, I was playing I exercise hard so I can justify more calories card for too long. I'm not a super low calorie eater and I've not even been measuring recently but I know that if I eat oatmeal for breakfast, protein, protein and vegetables with a piece of chocolate at the end of the day I'm going to do okay. At anyrate, you all think of us, Sunday morning 7:15 AM is our start time. We'll be looking divalicious too. You remember there is a costume element to this relay race.... That's right...we are not only foolishly going to try to compete on a physical level we're doing it dressed up too. And you'll see when the pictures get posted what we decided....

D I've spent the last 6 months just losing a half pound a week. The last month it's been 2 pounds a week. What's changed is that I stopped pretending that what I was eating okay and started eating like I wanted to lose weight. Because let me tell you I can eat around this band. I can prime it and then eat more. I can spend an hour slowly putting food in. I love cheese. One laughing cow or baby bel is okay, the innards of two chili cheese burritos with some of the tortilla is not okay. LOL. I really want to see 150 sometime in January and it's just not going to happen without working for it. Also with the exercise, I'm really pushing myself to work harder/do more with nearly visit to the gym. know what I'm sayin'?

D You are amazing! The energy from weight loss is something you can't even begin to explain. It's one of those you've got to experience it things, you know? I'm freaking about the muddy buddy, frankly. I'm a bit afraid of heights and a 10 foot rope ladder is freaking me out. Also the balance beam 4 feet off the ground. What if it's wet? It will hurt so much to fall. Did I tell you they put you in catagories based on your COMBINED ages. 69 and up is the oldest catagory. Stacy and I are 68! The second oldest catagory...all because of me! Which is funny and painful at the same time! J

Collar bones rock! D I love those pictures! You look amazing.

You might want to give the skirted bottoms a try. Don't think "old lady", because it's not. Think, "hides the stomach and inner thighs really well" because it does. WTG, on the attitude about getting out there and having fun!

I don't know about Belgium for surgery. I've seen one or two people travel there (on the message board) for surgery. You might want to post on the main forum to gather their stories. However I can tell you that it took me nearly a week to feel well enough not to take pain medication. The pain medication is what keeps you from driving. It is worth it. You need to commit to a change in how you live your life. And yes, you can drink a glass of wine here and there. Good luck. Juli

I told Alison she needs to snap at least 100 shots, I'll edit them later. I'll put them together slide show style for your pleasure when it's over! I really am scared about the rock wall! On a different note....I tried on shorts today, size 14s!!!!!!!! OMG, that made my day. The stomach ass muffin top wasn't so pretty but woo hoo!

Tia That sounds horrible. I'm glad you are better now. Whew, that's so scary!

Muddy Buddy is coming this weekend. BG just gave me the obstical list: 5ft Rock wall rope ladder on other side 20ft long balance beam 4ft off the ground over- under-over A frame thing 10 ft rope ladder slide down the other side Then of course the mud pit. I'm scared to death.

Like I said, he stinks. It's about him not liking himself. Not about you and how you are accomplished. Some people need to knock other people down to feel good about themselves which doesn't do anyone a whole lot of good. You might not be able to shut him down or keep him from taking a swing at you but you can learn to duck and you can also know he is swinging at the wrong target. I love that you answered and I love that you quit eating the junk and got on your bike. You need to be proud of yourself D. You do.

D, Girl give me your phone number, you need a LBT Love intervention. OH wait you did...

TammyJ I love that picture of you. You look so good! And Happy!!!

Gwen, I'm sorry you've been stressed. I have missed your encouraging words, it's nice to see you back. I loved your statement about being at goal come March of 09. That's my plan too. I hope actually to see it in January but if it's March, that's okay too. I was resting on my laurels so to speak for the last few months. I was losing slowly like a half pound a week. If you asked me I would have lied and said I was eating okay and exercising enough, but reality is that I was letting extra calories creep into my mouth and I was making excuses to exercise less frequently. Anyway, I've shaken that thinking off. I've gotten serious again about eating right, and wouldn't you know it, the weight has started to move again. I'd like to believe I'm not alone in needing/taking a break from the process.

Checking in. HP, I won't be doing the Fort Wayne ride this fall. My schedule is too full. I might do some organized rides but they'll be last minute decisions. I just can't commit.

BG, I'm thinking about you and your family. Today will be hard. I'm so sorry.

Yeah, kiddo was sick last week with ear infections/sinus infection. I was hoping it would pass me by. I'm going to drink gallons of water (really I'm going to drink as much as possible) and hit up the vitamins/cold remedies. It's just hard to do in the middle of the night, my stoma closes and I can't put anything after I've laid down. I was asleep for a few hours. I need to be in good form next weekend, we have the much talked about Muddy Buddy coming up on the 3rd. Ugh. I'm signing off. Over and out.

D Why are you awake?

coffee is an irritant so you might want to go slowly with it and see how it feels. I drink a big cup in the morning, I see it as keeping my sanity, but if it bothered me I'd stop. So listen to you body. Deer meat is something you certainly can eat. Just cook it so it's very moist. Dry meat gets stuck. Like now I eat only dark chicken meat because breasts are too dry. good luck.

Sushi was my biggest and first PB. It's the seaweed come to find out. Sashmi does much better. However rice is a tricky, not very nurtrious food. I've had issues with Mexican rice and plain old white rice. I don't know why I keep on trying, you'd think I'd learn! I do love Japanese food...I just eat sukiaki and other things now.