deckedout

Susan, On the go foods. Well, for breakfast I cooks some hot oatmeal, the little single serving packets (I use the weight control cause they have more protein) in a syrofoam cup and add hot water. I eat this on my prep period while I'm walking around working. It doesn't work well in a car. I also buy the different soup at hands they are not full of protein, actually have very little, so I might just stop drinking them, and with those I have the cottage doubles. THey have 11 grams of protein which is pretty good and are easy to grab and eat quickly. And no microwave is needed String cheese works well. I also like to buy roast beef (or any kind of meat for that matter) sliced from the deli, then put some cream cheese in the center of it and roll it up. Not too messing and tastes great. there are also some really tasty protein bars (I hear, I haven't actually found one yet). It is hard to find stuff to eat when you are on the run and don't cook. This happens to us a lot on weekends or when we go skiing. Much of what is out there is not band friendly.

Mary, I am very sorry about your nephew, that kind of stuff really scares me especially since I have a son in college. Brian and family will be in my prayers (sending one up right now). Sherri, Nice to hear from you. Now that you've had your fill, you will start losing again. I went for a long time putting off getting a fill for the same reasons you got an unfill, PBing and all that,. THis new fill is pretty tight and I have to eat soft and slow in the morning, and sometimes still at night, but the weigh is very slowly coming off. Paulax, Your fill will help you start losing again, I'm sure. From what I have been reading, many of us seem to have hit a slump for the last few weeks. I think it is a normal plateau we all have to go through on our journey but we will get through it.

Hey, where are all the July folks! How are we doing on our challenge? Only 2 weeks left to get to your challenge goal. I don't think I'm gonna make it, unless something very surprising happens in the next few days! I bought new clothes this weekend and I am now officially in a size 10! I am downn 3 full sizes in 7 months so that is really good for me. What is everyone dooing? Anyone working out? Is everyone just too busy with life to check the board? Huh? I wanted to bump this up was we were back to like page 4. Sherri, How did your fill go? What are you up to? Are you still losing? I feel lonely guys. Talk to me:(

I don't know about it. I'm up in the air. Of coarse, I can't get it, but my daughter could. My concern dates me. When I was preg. with my daughter, I was asked if my MOTHER had taken something ( I don't remember the name, maybe others do?) when she was pg with ME because if she had then MY CHILDREN would be at risk for birth defects. So, every time I see that commerical, focused only at young girls, I think of that. I'm scared that we will have a whole generation of girls out there carrying SOMETHING that is going to transmit down the line. At the same time, I worry about the HPV thing. However, I had HPV before I had my second son and it went away no problem. Not all types of HPV cause cancer, and NOT all cancer is caused by HPV.

Well, I wore my dress today and got a lot of compliments! It wasn't even as hard to put on the nylons. I'm sure that is cause I wasn't fighting all my fat to do it. When I was putting them on, I was remembering what I think is the last time I tried to wear hose. I think it was in August at open house or no it was 6th grade orientation. I tried to get them on in the lady's room after working in my classroom all day. I worked up such a sweat, it was 100 already, then I ripped them, then I decided I wouldn't wear them at all. That was over 2 years ago! Anyway, I swam this morning and got all ready in my pretty dress for work. Go, ME! I am also having trouble getting my water in. Ever since my last fill, Dec. 15th, I've had Christmas break and then for the month of January I had a student teacher. WEll, I'm back to teaching my classes now, and boy, it is hard to get that water in. I try to drink 24 oz before and after my morning workout. Then, during my prep period, like around 830, I eat breakfast. I've started those Weight Control oatmeal packets, they are pretty good and soft enough for me in the morning. So, then I get busy, and today I have just started on my 2nd 24 oz water and it is after 4! I guess I better work harder at getting the H2O down. I hope everyone had a great day. Audree: EXERCISE!

Charlotte, I just finished Gone, and thought it was great. In 24 hours I finished Julie Garwood's Slow Burn. I didn't want to put this one down. Had to force myself to go to sleep so I could wake up in the morning and read more. I'm with you, once I get going, I could read until I have cobwebs draped from my withered body.

Kat, Do you think there is a 6 month plateau, like you'll lose pretty good for the first 6 months and then your body says, "Hey, what is going on here! I gotta keep this weight or I'll die!"? Seems like everyone in the July group is having trouble right now with the plateau.

Audree, I like classes too, although, right now the only one I'm taking is Yoga on Monday afternoons. The thing about classes, for me, is I don't want to let anyone down by missing. Today our yoga instructor kicked our bums! We did Camels and tried to push up into a bridge. Ha, I haven't done that since I was in like 7th grade. I got my bridge up to where I was on my feet, arms, and head, then I couldn't push up anymore. Next, we did it using a partner. I held her ankles and she kind of pulled me up, then let go, and I was able to hold it then! Now my port area is a little sore, but I'm proud of myself. Today, I switched up my swimming practice. I added a few laps of breaststroke and some skill training for my arms. Tough stuff fo 530 in the morning. But, I was proud of what I could do. I'm running out of clothes to wear so this weekend I went to Burlington Coat Factory and found 2 nice pair of size 10! pants for work. But, since I didn't want to wear all my new stuff and be left with nothing else, I dug through the "closet" the one with "those clothes" anyway, I found a dress that I wore maybe once 8 years ago, when I lost weight for a second. I'm gonna (hopefully) wear it tomorrow. Assuming I can actually do all the nylons getting on, slip putting on, actually wearing of the dress. It is really cute, just above my knees. I put it on over my other clothes, and it wasn't too tight, so it should be good for tomorrow. I think I was like 165 or so when I wore it before, it was a bit snug then, which is why I only wore it once. Wish me bravery, I might get it on and change my mind. I'm bringing a different set of clothes with me to the gym in the morning, just in case lol.

Susan, I had lasiks right after my surgery. We figured get it all done in one year so we can use the tax deduction. I really could not see perfectly for about a week. And things were rough, like my eyes felt really tired for about the same amount of time. But, it is great now. I agree that the eye surgery was worse than the lapband.

Sandy, I have just started Yoga myself, not hotbox yoga, but just regular yoga. I like it because of the stretching, it makes me feel great! I think that is 98 F which is really hot, does it feel really hot? I think that would make me tired. But, it also might feel really good, especially when it is sooooo cold outside.

Ugh, I didn't know there was a new Plum book, now I have to go out and get it. I'm a Morrelli fan myself, Maybe Matthew McConahay? Sandra Bullock for Stephanie, without a doubt! I agree, Missy, you have to read the Reichs' books without thinking of the series, they are that much different. David Boreanz is HOT! Ha, and I'm 41?

Kristi, I love reading in the tub. Nice private time. I love romance books (who doesn't) but can't stand Sci-fi. Currently, I'm in my mystery/ Detective phase. I'm even going to force that unit on my 6th graders. Who do I love? Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum is my idol. I wish I could get away with half of what she does. I also love all of the "Full" series (Full House, Full Scoop, etc) JD Robb: I know it is Nora Roberts, who I really avoid except when she is writing "In Death" I guess I'm a snob, but when I buy a Harliquin, I hide it so no one sees it Sue Grafton: the letter series: I find the main character (brain fart on her name, it has been a while since I've read one) to be quite similar to Stephanie Plum. Our book club just did a author study on Lisa Scottoline. I read Running from the Law and traded for Killer Smile. Strong female leads, I don't think as good as Grafton or Evanovich. I just read my first Kathy Riechs' book. Monday Moarning. This is the series that the TV show BONES is based on. The writing is excellent, but it gets a little too technical for my understanding. She goes into a little too much detail about Carbon 14 dating and other things I didn't understand. I love Mary Jane Clark and have read some of her daughter stuff. My son has all the Wheels of time series and really enjoys that, but I haven't been able to get into it. I'm like others, lately I've been spending too much time on here and working out to really get to read enough of my books. If anyone has any recommendations of good detective novels for 6th graders, I'm trying to come up with a nice list to give to my student, who tend to confuse detective/mystery with chills like RL Stine.

I teach 6th grade, thought about going to high school, but yeah, those kids scare me too. And I have an 18 and a 15 yr old. But, of couse, mine are perfect!

My doctor has told me for the last 2 fills that I probably wouldn't need another fill, that this fill would take me right down to my goal. But, she is just guessing. So if I need a new fill, I call and get one. If you need it, you get it, and it sounds like you need it!

Madden, I would be careful with the "it is going to take us 6-7 months to lose." I am almost 7 months out, I have followed ALL the bandster rules, I exercies every day and I am still only a little over half way to my goal. I don't want to be discouraging to you, but I don't want you to set yourself up for disappointment also. When I was first banded, and the weight was FALLING off, I really thought that I would be 160 by the time school started in September. But then, the weight loss slowed down, as it must, and I had to fight harder to lose the weight, and I still fight to lose the weight. But, I am learning great things as I lose, I don't have loose skin, I have firm muscles, and I feel great. Give yourself time, my DH went through a very difficult time when his weight loss slowed down. But today we figured out percentage. Even though he had 175 lbs to loose and I had 70 or so, right now after almost 7 months of weight loss, we have both lost the exact same percentage of our original weight, 19%! I just caution you against believing the weight fall off, mine did at the beginning, but it has really slowed down. You can't, in a healthy way, force your body to give up weight that it wants to hang on to. I suppose it depends on how long you have been overweight and how much yo-yo dieting you have done. I have done a lot of yo-yo, and every weight that I've spent any amount of time at has been a plateu for me. If you haven't had many set point then maybe it will be easier.

Thanks Genius. My math skills are obviously lacking. Probably basic multiplication problems, that is why I teach English, not math LOL!

I had a pre-op diet too, same as Audree so I stuck to that, pretty much. we scheduled our surgeries so quickly, we didn't have much time to do the "last meals" but did do a couple. Luckily, they were all pretty awful. The "last meal" at Outback was awful. My hubby's steak was overdone, etc. I would still be able to eat those places, so now, doing the "last meals" seems pretty silly. I went to Olive Garden right before my last fill. Now, I don't really see the point, although the commericals still look awesome. I couldn't eat enough to make it worthwhile, probably. If the "last mealS" should take place, it would be right before the fill that takes you to your "sweet spot" which is where (I think) I am now, but I didn't knw before that fill that this would be the case. Besides, if I really want to, I can still eat anything I want. Granted, it would just be a little bit, but so what, really. Does it matter if I eat 4oz of steak or 16 oz of steak, as long as I am eating a wonderfully cooked steak? That being said, we really cook at home more now than ever before. My hubby wanted to go out the other night (we are both banded) but I wasn't able to eat that day (too tight) so I said we could go out, but I would only eat soup, he said it wasn't worth it. So, actually, we are saving money on going out to eat. Of couse, I have to buy new clothes all the time, so it is a trade off. On the plus side, next week, I'm going shoppping because I noticed today that my 12's are loose Yea, ha!

Supergenius818 (Susan)- Wow, you really are a genius, LOL. That is very useful information. I knew about the heartrate zones cause they are posted in the gym, but I never really knew what they meant. So, if I'm 41, I should be shooting for a heartrate of 89 - 103? Is that right for the 60-70% aerobics training? Is that where we should be, do you know, for the most part, in that area?

Audree, Honestly I can't answer you about the restriction, you are feeling it way longer than I did, I don't eat soy, or veggie stuff, so I can't answer you on that. Just make sure what ever you eat isn't dry. that makes it tough.

I like doing the AM and PM thing. I do 45 minutes every morning, with the intent to do another 60 minutes in the PM; however, most of the time I am too tired after work to work out, or there is a meeting, or something happens. THat is why I like my 530 workout, the worst thing that can happen is that I won't get up. To avoid that, I put all my stuff in the car. My make-up, hair dryer, curling Iron, clothes for tthe day. Everything is in the car. If I don't get up, I have to go out to the car, bring everything upstairs, unload, etc. for me, that is too much work, I'd rather workout. I know it is all pyschological, but, hey what ever works right? I, personally, think anything under 30 minutes is a waste, so I exercise AT LEAST that every time. When I'm swimming, because of the extra effort, it needs to be at least 40, and some mornings I am forcing myself to do that.

I have been swimming now every week day (just about) since Octo. 23. The first 3 weeks were the hardest, I was always tired. But, I continued and now I usually wake up before the alarm and really look forward to the workout. I always take weekends off, my body does need the time to rest. I also work out 2 times a day on 2-3 days a week, but I "always" swim in the morning. When I don't swim, now, I feel more tired than if I had swam. It is not worth skipping. We had snow for a while, and everything was closed, so I didn't get to go for a week. I really missed it and it wasnt' hard to get back to it because I missed it so much. I think the most important thing, and this is from all my infinite wisdom LOL, is that you ENJOY what your doing, if working out is torture, it will take longer to not feel exhausted. Mentally, your brain just doesn't want to do it, so it takes a toll. Now that I have been swimming for a while, I'm starting to think that an AM jog might be nice, but I LOVE swimming, so I don't know that I would want to give it up to do anything else.

Bikergirl360, Facials are excellent. Movie out! Dancing! Bowling. I love shopping and looking at all the clothes, but I can't get myself to buy anything. I have like 4 outfits and 2 pairs of jeans. Luckily, everyone wears jeans to work on Fridays. I'm getting sick of wearing the same thing all the time. My 1 pair of 14's that still kind of fits is getting quite loose, so today I stinched up the belt and wore them. I'm, I think, almost to where I could buy some 10's but I think they are going to be tight. I have 2 pairs of 12's I can wear to work, but they are getting loose and a 14 that fits like the 12's do. I'm am really too scared to try on the 10's cause I don't want to discover they don't fit. Maybe after the TOM comes and goes, any day now, I'll take the plunge and try some on. I'll be crossing my fingers the whole time. Keep in mind that I'm only 5' 2" so I'm hardly the next Tari Hatcher. Maybe an Eva Longoria?

Hi all, Silry- Excellent! I can't wait til you get your date! Audree, Dr. Ortiz said the reason he doesn't do mushies is because they just don't keep you full, so you end up eating more. 3 weeks is enough for your stomach to heal so you can handle the solids. But, when you start out, I did kind of mushies for a while. Eggs really count as a solid and so does cottage cheese because of how they digest I guess, anyway, try to stick to that type of food the first day. Sausage DOES NOT work for me at all, so be careful. Have a nice evening all!

silry, I hate having to make money decision, but I think interest rates are going up. We just did a second and that is at 11%, which I think is too high, but we needed it so did it anyway. Audree, I haven't had any problem with my hair, which really surprises my sister. Her hair always dries out when she swims, so far I've been really lucky I guess. My hair is also dyed and it is a reddish brown color. I wear a swim cap and wash and condition my hair as soon as I'm done swimming. I hope the good luck holds. Heritagejenny, I have the same problems. Some days I'm really tight and some days I'm looser, but still tight. I can usually tell when I drink my first water of the morning if it is going to be a tight day. On days, or times, when I feel really tight, I try to eat mostly softer foods (i.e. soup, yogurt, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, chicken salad) and drink warm or hot drinks before I eat anything iffy. Other days, I can pretty much eat anything, for example going to HomeTown Buffet the other day for breakfast. It is really a learning situation, and can change frequently. As long as you can drink water you are not too tight, unless you become really frustrated, as some people do. If it bothers you, have a tiny, likte .2 unfill and see if that helps. Remember, as you lose weight the band becomes looser, especially in the beginning.

SUsan, I am exercising between 1 and 2 times each day. It is very important to me as not only do I want to lose weight, I want to be healthy. I do not jog or run. I have always loved to swim, so every morning I swim for about 45 minutes. this has always been my favorite because I LOVE the water. I have just started doing yoga on Mondays and Thursdays. This I am beginning to enjoy, it is very new for me, but I like it. I have a real problem with flexiblity so I thought it would be good. On Tuesdays and Wednesday I try to lift weights, as this is at th same club that I pay for the swimming, I feel a litte better about putting it off, and often do not do it. When I first started swimming, I spent a few weeks not losing weight, but I did lose inches, and better than anything else, I feel great. It is amazing to me that now I "feel" fatter than I did at 196, mainly because, I think, I pay more attention now. before I was in denial. I have said this before, and I'll say it again. I have recieved a lot of complements about my weight loss and my "stick to itness" I am not quite sure how to take and respond to these completments. Audree, I went and bought some south beach lunches and have been eating them the past couple days. My 15 yr old son has been begging us to go out to breakfast (he is the only one left at home, thank God) so we went to Home town buffet this AM, yuck, I haate PBing in the resturant restroom! Anyway, I ate too much this mornign. But tomorrow it is back to swimming, and this is long term for me. So, right now I am down 38 lbs. I still think I will be at 130 by my 1 year anniversary. Anything else is gravy. Right now I wear a very loose12, I could probably fit into a 10m but haven't tried yet, scared I guess. I haven't worn a 10 for at least 15 years. I love my band. I guess he needs a name. I think its a boy because he ony focuses on one thing at a time and can be a real pain in my you know what. Actually, my cousin is similar and his name is Brandon. SO, I guess that is what I call call him, Brandon.