kareyquilts

Let the countdown begin! 20 and counting!:party: I've already done 30 minutes on the elliptical. I will snowshoe for an hour later this afternoon. I will count my calories and aim for 1200. :hungry: I will succeed! :clap2: Happy New Year Fellow Bandsters!:whoo:

Alynne: So glad you decided to start a thread about your journey! You deserve the support and attention. You have done a wonderful thing for yourself. I know your going to love your new body once you are feeling a little better that is! I'm a little older than you, so I'm expecting that I won't be feeling as chirper as JulieNYC or Ghost or Enterprise, but that's okay. We are all on our own journey. It sounds like you are a caretaker and I'm glad that you had someone to take care of you for a change! Hope you get the drains out on Wednesday and that the swelling goes down soon. Keep us posted on your progress and all the details. I know it will help me and others who are getting ready for similar procedures. God bless. Happy New Year!

This is a fun group. I hope it's alright if I join in?! Stephanie what brand of protien do you use that has casein in it? I thouoght your information on protien was excellent and will try out the Vitamin Shoppe article on Muscles and the Body. I checked out this thread because Angelnurse had talked about it on another thread. I need some support because I am trying to lose 20 more pounds before my tummy tuck on March 4th. I use the ellipitical about 30 minutes, 6 days a week, train with my trainer 3 days a week and do pilates 2 times a week. I am going to add an additional work out every day until my surgery. My time is limited, so it will probably be the treadmill at home in the evenings. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Are you going to start a January thread or keep this one going? I have been on a plateau for almost 2 months, so I guess I'm going to tweak my diet also. Happy New Year everyone!

Congratulations, Denise!

thickchick: You can do it! Giving up the sweets will make all the difference! (I knowit's easier said than done). Keep trying you've already done so well!

Alynne: I'll check out the December thread. I think that you should post on the plastic surgery forum for sure. You can start without pictures until you feel better and just tell your story, every one will be supportive and you'll help others who are looking forward to PS. I'll be watching for your thread. Good luck with your recovery!

Wow, smooth skin. Cool! Hope your Dad's trick works and the draining gets under control. Wishing you the best!

Diane, I'd go for convience, too and childcare! If it's not user friendly it won't work. Okay, I need a report on how you're feeling. I guess your okay to exercise! Miriam, how are you feeling? I am getting so scared about my TT and BL, that I wake up about 3 or 4:00 am and start worrying. My shoulders and neck are tense! I guess I'm worried that the results won't be all that I hope they'll be and then, of course, I'm worried about the pain and then, I'm worried about having to stop exercising and finding my way back to the gym. You name it and I'm anxious about it. Did either of you worry about all these things? My daughter's wedding is May 17th and of course that is adding to my list. And then I am throwing a 75th birthday party for my mom in Florida on March 1st. I have all kinds of projects for that including a tribute book, memory quilt and getting all the old family slides scanned and into a book. Bother! I think I'm crazy. Those things are keeping me up too. I'm getting tired and cranky and I want to up my exercise program and eat less food! Well, my goal will end on March 4th and I hope to be 20 pounds less. I started Nutri-system today and I'll walk for an hour (or snow shoe) and do weights. Tomorrow sounds like a good day to begin the official countdown!

Julie, keep us posted, you can do it!

Paulax, that is so neat that you will be running with your daughter. What a great example you are setting! Isn't it wonderful to be in this position instead of where you where say a year ago! Now, when the going gets tough, remind yourself of that! LOL. You will get to goal soon, I'm sure! Still trying to decide if I'll start a thread or just get a little support from my September band-sisters. Also, worried that I can't make it by March 4th, but I guess I can only give it the old school try!

Angel, how did your surgery go? Hope you're alright. Why not start your own thread? Manatee, keep it up!

I wish you the best. I'm wondering why the doc didn't just take out .25, you don't want to be hungry all the time. You paid a lot of money for your tool and your doc should work with you so that it works for you. That being said, I think that Weight Watchers is a good program. Keep us posted!

Sweethot: I'd email the customer service department of Apex and complain and request forgiveness. Make up a good excuse. My counselor forgot me 2 times and I didn't get extra sessions. That's just BS, if you know what I mean. You paid enough for the Body Bugg, besides it's to their advantage for you to understand it well, so you'll use it and want to keep up your monthly subscription. Good luck! Stand up for yourself!

Julie: I hope your draining gets better. How do you rest with a thigh lift? What position is comfortable? I'm sure you can lie on your breasts, so what do you do? I'm going to have my arms and back side done on my 2nd go round and I think and worry about these things. Have you seen all the 24 series? Maybe it's time to catch up on a favorite TV series! As always, wishing you the very best!

Gosh your doctor is stingy! My son's doc gave him a 3 month prescription, said it takes that long to completely get over it. Some doc's think their pretty damn important! I think you have several things going against you-- recent surgery, infection, stress, the Chantix may have increased your appetite and your unfill. Bother on all fronts! Well your getting through it and you will conqueor, I would just cut yourself a little slack and until you get back with your doctors and get filled and a new prescription (don't know their nurse or whoever takes call can't call you in a RX?). Anyway, I think I'd wait until your fill to start a new diet. Just try to make good healthy choices and move as much as your able. Good luck! Next week, I'm starting Nutri-System and beginning the big 20 count down. Tell me I can get close before my surgery!

Can't wait to hear more about your TT, lipo and Breast lift. I'm having the same procedures in March, so I will be watching your progress carefully. I can't imagine a flat stomach either. It's really really exciting though, isn't it! Congratulations!

From one Utah girl to another, CONGRATULATIONS! YEAH! Way to go!

Mimin: I'll bet you'll heal better since you quite smoking. Don't give in, you can do it. That being said, my son, got a prescription for Chantix and it really helped him to quit. I know that the fill will help you, alot! I'm not sure if I will get an unfill or a slight unfill before my surgery. I see my band doc on Jan.4th to ask that question and find out about a lower profile port (Did you get one?). Anyway, we are all going to get back on track!

LivingtheDream: Wow! To be a man and burn all those calories! I use the ellipitical for 30 minutes a day, weight train with a trainer for 1 hour, 3x a week and do pilates 2x a week for an hour. On a good day, when I am very busy I burn 2500 calories and that is including the exercise on a Sunday when I don't exercise and do attend church, I burn 1800. If I didn't watch what I eat and exercise, I would have a hard time losing any weight. I hope you know how lucky you are! If you follow the program you've got it made in the shade!

Paulax, wish I would have found this thread when you started it! How long has it taken you to lose the last 18 (are you still at 18 or have you hit goal)? You've had such marvelous support, maybe I should start a thread. I need to lose my last 20 by March 4th. I'm having a tummy tuck and would like it gone. Gone with the wind and the knife! I'm working at it, but it's not coming off without a fight! What did you do to get it off? I didn't read any diet plan, etc. Anyway, congratulations! YEAH!

Mimin: How do you find things like the 5 Day Pouch Diet? I looked it over and it looks like a good way to refocus. I think I'll try it next week after we get back from seeing my husband's family. Please let me know if you find it helpful?! Thanks. Yes, I have a surgery date. I'll be having a TT and Breast lift on March 4th. I'm going to try and get off as much weight as I can by then. Since I decided that was going to be the plan, I've lost 3 pounds. It sure doesn't come off like it use, so I'm going to work really hard and be satisified with my efforts. I did go with the 2nd doctor. He said that I didn't need to lose 20 more pounds that it wouldn't make that much difference in the results, but that isn't what the other 2 docs said. The third doc said whatever weight you can get off will only make it better. I tend to agree. I choose the 2nd doctor because he treated me respectfully and like I had a brain in my head. The third guy talked down to me and I don't like that. Not sure which one is the better surgeon, but the 2nd doc said the surgery would take 5 hours and the 3rd doc said 8 hours. Also, the 3rd doc does it in an in office surgery suite and his office is pretty far from a hospital. He would hire and nurse to stay with me overnight. I'm not entirely comfortable with that set up and would prefer to go to a surgery center. Those are some of my reasons. Hope I made the right choice. Who really knows for sure!? Also, I really liked the 2nd docs before and after pictures. He just seems competent and he also provided me with a list of references. Well, good luck with your 5 day get in touch with your pouch diet.

Any suggestions on which brand of compression garment is good. I only have heard of Spanx are there other's out there that people like?

LJM: Your doing great losing weight through the holidays and all. I'm proud of you! I've lost 3 pounds and counting. You made me realize that I should do a count down. I think I'll add it to my LB signature. Are you getting nervous yet? I sure am, but also excited! It's going to be fun to be so close to each other's surgery dates, we'll be able to compare notes. Keep up the good work and I'll report back, too!

Hi guys, Julie started a new thread for her breast and thighs. Check it out at http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f12/julienyc-s-medial-thigh-lift-breast-augmentation-mons-lift-47261/index4.html#post662745

Miriam: Thanks for doing this challenge for us! I've managed to loss 2 pound over the holidays, but I need to (want to) lose 20 more before my TT and breast lift! I'm ready for the challenge! Glad your feeling a little better, hope you get the go ahead to get back to work!