LoseIt!

I'm sorry that you have had complications and I will pray that your upcoming surgery will correct everything successfully! Sending hugs!!

That's great!!

I did the exact same thing before I went on my preop diet. In fact, I gained 20 pounds in the 2 months before!! I don't know how to explain it, but now that I'm banded and I can't pig out, I don't need to pig out. I know that probably doesn't make sense, but what I'm trying to say is that it is going to be okay. I was an emotional eater (for EVERY emotion...is boredom an emotion?) and now, I'm so much better. Enjoy your foods now, but know that you are going to be fine later too. This isn't like all those other "diets". Best wishes!!

Sounds like you are doing well! All of this will pass soon. Wishing you the best!

After my run yesterday morning, I was SO hot. I even took a cold shower to help cool me off. I was fine most of the day until the afternoon. My office is always cold, but since I'm so hot natured, I never needed anything more than a fleece jacket. But yesterday, I was freezing. I made it through the afternoon (SHIVERING!) and went to Jazzercise. While I was warm through class, I wasn't ridiculously hot like I usually am when I work out. After class, I felt chilled to the bone. When I got home, I turned my heater on 74 (it is usually on 68-70 in the colder months) and wrapped up like a burrito in my blanket. I finally warmed up in time for bed. But then I was so hot I couldn't sleep!! HAHA! This morning I tried to dress appropriately. I'm wearing a long sleeved T-shirt. Over that I have on a short sleeved sweater. Over that I have on a boiled wool jacket. That should be enough layers to take care of any situation!! :-) Right now with all of these clothes on, I'm comfortable. It's possible that I've not been this small as an adult in cold weather. Or at least not for long. It will be interesting to see if at 36 I turn into a cold person after being hot all my life or if this was a one day phenomenon. Happy Wednesday everybody!

Thank you for checking in with us! It is really good to hear from people that have had the band a while. Weight is truly a life long struggle, banded or not. Thanks!

I went through the True Results Center of Ft. Worth and their support groups are AWESOME! If the Austin office has them, I stongly encourage you to go. Best of luck to you...can't wait to hear about your journey!!

2011 is going to be a whole new year with a whole new you!! Best of luck to you and keep us updated!

Wow, you have had a fascinating life! May this be the start of the next set of best years of your life. :cursing:

First of all, thank you for being a paramedic and a conscientious one at that. I could never do what you do and it is such an important thing! Second, it is apparent the way you are thinking this through that you are on the right track. I am an analyzer and I went through all of the questions and scenarios before as well. You will find tons of information out here, but everyone is different. Follow your surgeon's advice and listen to your body. You will do great!

November is off with a bang! Last night was my standard Jazzercise and it felt good. We did a lot of jumping which my feet grumbled about, but I was able to do most all of it! We did a move called a reverse plank where you are sitting with your feet straight out and you lift your body off the floor using your arms. That wasn't so bad. But then we had to take turns raising each leg in the air...that was hard! And I'm quite sure I wouldn't have been able to do it 50 pounds ago, much less 75! Last night I sadly watched the Texas Rangers finish their spectalcular season. They were SO fun to watch and they truly made a fan of me. Once the game was over, I switched to MNF to watch my beloved Colts. It was nice to have a win to offset some of the World Series sadness. :-) Thank goodness I'm not a Cowboys fan!!! HAHA! This morning I got up extra early and went for a 1.75 mile run. It is still really hard, but I feel better when it is done. I got ready and went to vote. Cori & I usually ride together on election days, but we have different schedules today so I headed to the polling place alone this morning. Once I got there to check in, my name wasn't on the list. As they were calling it in, Cori walked in and she wasn't on the list either. Luckily, Cori had her voting card and it turns out that our precinct moved. Excellent! So off to the next polling place. I did my civic duty and STILL made it to work early. Happy Election Day! If nothing else, all the negative ads will be behind us for a few months.

That is AWESOME!!! YOU DID IT!! I know that feeling of everyone whizzing by you. :cursing: My second 5K I started so far in the back that there was no one to pass me. I actually passed a person or two. Doing things like this is hard and it is a big deal. GOOD FOR YOU!

Totally!! Some people have problems with Thanksgiving or Christmas, but Halloween is totally my weakness!! Chocolate = delicious. And there are so many options. I hope you made it through safe. :cursing:

How fun!! I just get so motivated every time I read your posts. :cursing:

I can't wait to see! You can hear how great you feel just by reading your post. :cursing: LOVE IT!!

1 lb a week is 1 lb a week! Just keep moving in the right direction!! :cursing:

Not everybody loses a lot or loses right away. Some do and some don't. Just keep yourself focused on you. A fill will help, but you may need another (or another) to get where you need to be. It is a marathon, not a sprint. But you have already started and it does get easier!

I'm so inspired by your post! I love all of the changes you are noticing in yourself. That is fantastic! Have a wonderful time in India and Thailand. I think it would be amazing to visit those places!

That is fabulous! Congrats and keep up the great work!

You can do it!!

Congratulations!! Good for you with your running. That takes a lot of committment!!

I had an interesting and meaningful experience this morning. It is a little outside my normal blog feel, so I’m posting separately. But it meant a lot to me and I wanted to share. As a child, I looked up to my older cousin Tammy. In a big family, she was the oldest girl and hung out with all the older boys. There were 13 of us cousins and growing up we spent a lot of time together on my grandparent’s farm. We were so blessed to have that time together. I remember idolizing Tammy when I was in elementary school…she was probably in high school around that time. I thought she was so beautiful. I caught the bouquet at her wedding to handsome Mike. She was radiant that day. Several years later, Tammy was attacked at her job. I was somewhat young and wasn’t privy to the details, but I know it wasn’t good. From that point on, she was never able to pull out of the spiral that began. She was in unsuccessful therapy, on too many pills and lived with her enabling mother. She lost her husband, her job, her friends, and her happiness. She was terribly obese. At our family get-togethers, she would eat and eat and eat. It was devastating to watch. I understand now that Tammy always had an eating problem…just like everyone else in my family, including me. I honestly believe it is hereditary. We all have weight issues, although some have a better handle on it than others. She had just gotten to the point where she couldn’t or didn’t want (or didn’t have the energy) to control it. Several years ago, Tammy passed away in her sleep. I’m not sure if they every actually figured out the true cause. But in my heart, Tammy just gave up on life. This morning, I was dreaming about Tammy. I was having a conversation with her and her two sisters (sisters that do not exist in reality and I’m not sure what/who they symbolize). I don’t really remember that conversation, but I do know that it was a positive and happy one. Still in the dream, I called my mom. I told her about the conversation and although she didn’t mention the sisters she did remind me that Tammy had died so it couldn’t have been her. I told her that I forgot Tammy had died, but I KNEW it was her. Of that I was sure. The conversation ended. Still in the dream, I was standing at a bathroom mirror. I laid my hands flat on the counter and bowed my head. I said to Tammy that I know it was you and I know you are here with me now. I asked her to give me a sign that she was with me. I looked up into the mirror with my hands firmly on the counter. My reflection was there pointing straight at me. It startled me, but then my body became warm and I started to wake up. Before I completely let go, I told her that “I knew it.” Whether I believe that Tammy’s spirit was truly with me or whether I believe it was simply a dream is irrelevant. I know that Tammy would be behind me and appreciate what I am doing to change my life. It also helps reaffirm what I am fighting for. Although I am not Tammy, I do think that we share many similarities. I could very easily follow her path. But I’m choosing something different. I’m forging my own way and I WILL be successful. I love you Tammy and I promise that you will always be in my heart. Beth

First and foremost (ripping off the bandaid), the bad news is that I only lost one pound in October. Yikes! I know you are not supposed to say "only" because a pound lost is a pound lost. And for that, I am thankful. If I had worked hard for this pound, then I would be thrilled! But you all know with all of my vacations and Halloween, etc., I have spent a lot of time off the wagon this month. That's okay and I'm not beating myself up about it, but that is why I am only one pound down. Time to pay the piper!! HOWEVER, there is a lot of good news too. That one pound took me out of Class 2 obesity and into Class 1. That is a nice goal to reach! Also, I lost 7 inches on my body this month, including 2.5" on my bust, 1.5" on my waist and over a half inch on each upper arm. So, I'm tightening up and getting smaller which is the real goal anyway. Also...2nd 5K! I attached a picture from the race. I'm getting stronger and increasing my stamina, so that's great! November, here I come!!