MimIN

MCSE is Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer - it is an I.T industry standard certification that I have to get to prove I know how to do my job. 7 tests, FUN FUN FUN. I am VERY impressed, 3 miles in 36 minutes! You'll be marathon running before you know it! :wow2:

I am addicted to Isopure chocolate, 50 g of protien per serving. I mix it with 8oz skim milk and 1/4 of a banana and ice - tastes like a milkshake. I HATE most of the other isopure mixes but chocolate is good. Their pre-mixed juice like protien drinks are not bad (40g of protien), great for post workout.

A little late yet again... I'm in a MCSE training class and it's hurting my brain! Here are this week's numbers... TamifromAL – 213/-5/-2/0/-5/-2/-1/-2/-3 BJean – 181/0/0/-1/-1/0/0/-1/-1 Gonnabethin – 190/0/0/-1/-2/-1.5/0/0/0 MimIN – 199/-2/-2/0/-4/-2/-5/0/0 Sandranoelle – 275/-4/+2/0/-6/-3/+4/-3/-1 Kareyquilts – 203/-4/-2/-3/0/0/-2/-1/-1 TrueBlueSue - 174.5/0/0/0/-1.5/-1/-2 LindaN – 218/-1/-3/-1/0/-3/0/-3/0 Lauriegee – 215/-2/-6/0/+2/-3 Mom of Many – 209/-1/0/0 Mariecarmen – 198/-8/0/-2/-1/-2/0/+4 Lisalee – 203/+2/-4/-2/-1/-3/-1/+1/-2 Harlito – 371/-1.5/-3 April – 241/-5/0/0 Finallyonmyway – 200/-9 Katt – 282/-2

week 2 with a consistant 0. UGH! I exercised 7 days last week, 1-2 hr sessions, cardio every day and 5 days of weight training and still notta - frustrating. My BA is in a month and I want to be in the 170s before that and at this rate... anyway enough complaining! Tami: You are amazing! I am afraid of spinning. Last I tried it I about fell over dead although it was a few years ago. I am getting close to my goal but not quite there yet, 24lbs to go. it is a first to only be 24lbs overweight. Thanks all for the kind words, I can't wait to see everyone's pics as they start to pop up!

Mypov, my boyfriend and I went through this too. It seemed he found everything I lost, when I was down 60lbs he was up 60lbs. As I was changing he was getting more and more insecure and started eating. I learned that he mourned that I could no longer eat like I use to and I never wanted to go out to eat and I cook entirely different so in retaliation he started eating out 3 + times a day. He realized it was a problem when he stood on the scale and it wouldn't register his weight, at that point he was 327 standing 6'6'' tall. We came up with a reward system for him. He is a car enthusiest and we forever have junkers that will 'one day' be restored. His motivation is for every 20lbs he loses he can spend $500 on his hobby - sounds steep but it worked! He is now watching what he eats, going to the gym with me and down 30lbs. I have my buddy back that will do things with me that do not revolve around food.

Welcome tommygirl! We have the same band-date! You've come to the right place, this group is a great mix of awesome people, I couldn't have made it without the support I've found here. Tami: If we could find a way to eat chocolate AND lose weight we'd be billionaires! hmmm... that sounds like a great idea:) How exciting to have to change your goal because you are far more fit and trim! I'm jealous you have a pod at your gym! I had a bodpod analysis when I lived in FL and I would love to see what the results are now. Bjean: Congrats! I actually enjoy shopping now! I did it a lot before and now but I would dread the fitting rooms and now I am excited to jump in and see what I can fit into. I finally posted before and now pictures in the before and after pix forum if anyone is interested. I did not take pictures along the way and had a skewed view of what I look like so in effort to change that view I *finally* had some pictures taken.

Everyone looks amazing in this thread and it is so inspiring! I have always HATED cameras and did not take any true 'before' pictures. My friend encouraged me to take new pictures and dig up old pictures so I could SEE the difference and well I was kind of shocked once I put this collage together. I am still a work in progress but this is what I have so far...

Here is this week's numbers! Those that haven't reported I will update as they come in... TamifromAL – 213/-5/-2/0/-5/-2/-1/-2 BJean – 181/0/0/-1/-1/0/0/-1 Gonnabethin – 190/0/0/-1/-2/-1.5/0/0 MimIN – 199/-2/-2/0/-4/-2/-5/0 Sandranoelle – 275/-4/+2/0/-6/-3/+4/-3 Kareyquilts – 203/-4/-2/-3/0/0/-2/-1 TrueBlueSue - 174.5/0/0/0/-1.5/-1/-2 LindaN – 218/-1/-3/-1/0/-3/0/-3 Lauriegee – 215/-2/-6/0/+2/-3 Mom of Many – 209/-1/0/0 Mariecarmen – 198/-8/0/-2/-1/-2/0/+4 Lisalee – 203/+2/-4/-2/-1/-3/-1/+1 Harlito – 371/-1.5/-3 April – 241/-5/0/0 Finallyonmyway – 200/-9 Katt – 282/-2 Melissa0915

I have shovelled more snow this week then I have in my entire life! I am reporting a 0 loss this week. I think the chocolate caught up with me...

Sandy: I have had that happen quite a few times, I cannot eat anything solid in the morning because I fear *that* pain. a PB is when food actually comes back up usually coupled with mucous nastiness. If you only have chest pain but nothing comes back up it is just 'stuck' and the pain will subside once the stuck food moves it's way through the stoma. It is a horrible experience! If this is your first experience with this it is probably just a little swollen in the morning coupled with not chewing well enough. Or it could be your band dislikes whatever you were eating, I get that sometimes too, even when I know I need a fill. Does anyone have any NSV's this week? My house is chaotic right now after the blizzard, a little bit of cabin fever is driving everyone crazy. Today I decided to get away and go to the mall to window shop just to get away from the madness. My usual stops are Torrid and Lane Bryant. I went into Lane Bryant and tried a couple things on - all miles to big. Right next door is Express - a store I have often admired but never shop there because I'm far to big. For whatever reason I actually entered the store, looked around and gathered some items to try on. Biggest size they have in Pants is a 12 and shirt is a tiny XL. In the dressing room I about hit the floor, I got into a size 12 dress pants! They were a tiny bit snug in the waist but hips and butt all fit great and so $70 later I own a pair of over priced pants; So much for window shopping. I don't even know if I'll wear them but they say 12 so I absolutly had to have them.

Sorry I am running behind this week with the update - we were under a snow emergency the last couple days and although I was home I was working harder from there than I do at the office - Ha! We are down a total of 119.5lbs in 6 weeks!! Only 5 weeks to go... TamifromAL – 213/-5/-2/0/-5/-2/-1 BJean – 181/0/0/-1/-1/0/0 Gonnabethin – 190/0/0/-1/-2/-1.5/0 MimIN – 199/-2/-2/0/-4/-2/-5 Sandranoelle – 275/-4/+2/0/-6/-3/+4 Kareyquilts – 203/-4/-2/-3/0/0/-2 TrueBlueSue - 174.5/0/0/0/-1.5/-1/-2 LindaN – 218/-1/-3/-1/0/-3/0 Lauriegee – 215/-2/-6/0/+2/-3 Mom of Many – 209/-1/0/0 Mariecarmen – 198/-8/0/-2/-1/-2/0 Lisalee – 203/+2/-4/-2/-1/-3/-1 Harlito – 371/-1.5/-3 April – 241/-5/0/0 Finallyonmyway – 200/-9 Katt – 282/-2 Melissa0915

Well I went to Phoenix this week and was sure I would be reporting a gain b/c I ate like crap however 5lbs down! No idea how that happened considering the amount of chocolate I ate.

Another great week! Our running total is now at 103.5lbs!! TamifromAL – 213/-5/-2/0/-5/-2 BJean – 181/0/0/-1/-1/0 Gonnabethin – 190/0/0/-1/-2/-1.5 MimIN – 199/-2/-2/0/-4/-2 Sandranoelle – 275/-4/+2/0/-6/-3 Kareyquilts – 203/-4/-2/-3/0/0 TrueBlueSue - 174.5/0/0/0/-1.5/-1 LindaN – 218/-1/-3/-1/0/-3 Lauriegee – 215/-2/-6/0/+2/-3 Mom of Many – 209/-1/0/0 Mariecarmen – 198/-8/0/-2/-1/-2 Lisalee – 203/+2/-4/-2/-1/-3 Harlito – 371/-1.5/-3 April – 241/-5/0/0 Finallyonmyway - 200 Katt – 282/-2 Melissa0915

I went to Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. He has a book published that is available on amazon.com "Lapband for Life" and his website is http://www.obesitycontrolcenter.com. I paid $8500.00 and that included everything except airfare.

I have had a list in my head of things I want to do... I want to wear a 2 piece bathingsuit, take bellydancing lessons and learn how to shake it like Shakira.... I want to buy an outfit at abercrombie or hollister and not be glared at by the anorexic size 0 college bimbos... thats about it:)

Tami: WOOHOOO!!!! Welcome to ONEderland!!!!! Karey: I'm so glad the pain was worth the results! I am envious, congrats! I am down 2lbs this week.

Congrats Lisalee! That is incredible! :clap2:

Bjean: I really had not thought of it that way. It is a very real possibility considering she doesn't know me (never met) and hasn't heard me talking about getting a BA for the last 10 years. Jamie is so seldome serious that he may have given that impression. I have been guilty of passing judgement on a man for similar - it's the feminist in me. I will meet this woman next week at Jamie's employee appreciation dinner, I will try to refrain from giving her stink eye and give her a fair chance. Tami: I had read a lot of stories of where relationships went awry when one or the other lost a significant amount of weight and I was so scared that it would happen to us as well. I am a talker and although he is not I can sense when something is wrong and will drag whatever it is out of him. It has taken years but he finally trusts me and will talk if I approach it right. It's great that your hubby has been on board since the beginning! Jamie was uninterested initially but now is gung-ho and dragging me to the gym; I need the reinforcement some days! Lisalee: It would be an interesting poll/thread! It comforts me to know that others have made it through the struggles and are better than ever! Bodybuilding.com is a great website! I go there periodically when I need new workout ideas and it's much cheaper than my personal trainer! My RMR according to the calculator is 1675. It does makes me wonder why I'm not losing more weight - I take in about 1000 calories a day, I work out 5x a week burning around 500 calories each time. I need to find out what my actual RMR is. Karey: I look forward to hearing about your thermage experience. I am starting to get little lines around my eyes that are freaking me out and I read about it and wondered how well it worked. LindaN: Congrats on breaking your plateau! You must feel fabulous!

Here is this week's weigh in - we are now 4 weeks into the challenge and down a total of 78lbs! TamifromAL – 213/-5/-2/0/-5 BJean – 181/0/0/-1/-1 Gonnabethin – 190/0/0/-1/-2 MimIN – 199/-2/-2/0/-4 Sandranoelle – 275/-4/+2/0/-6 Kareyquilts – 203/-4/-2/-3/0 TrueBlueSue - 174.5/0/0/0/-1.5 LindaN – 218/-1/-3/-1/0 Lauriegee – 215/-2/-6/0/+2/ Mom of Many – 209/-1/0/0 Mariecarmen – 198/-8/0/-2/-1 Lisalee – 203/+2/-4/-2/-1 Harlito – 371/-1.5/-3 April – 241/-5/0/0 Finallyonmyway - 200 Katt – 282/-2 Melissa0915 -

Well I found out a little more tonight about my boy. There has apparently been a little jealousy the last while and a bit of insecurity as he has seen me changing. He says I look like a totally different person now (he met me heavy) and it's all so hard to deal with as quickly as it has happened. He said he doesn't want to be that guy that people look at and say "how did he get a woman like that!" in turn it has made him insecure. This man is the love of my life and no matter what he weighs I love him and I find him as attractive now as I did when I met him. He has decided for now he is going to try to lose it on his own. We came up with a reward system that will keep him motivated. For every 20lbs he loses he can put $500 into his project car. I have no doubt that will motivate him and he will surpass me in lbs lost, he drops weight like nothing when he wants to. I could use the company at the gym, I seem to work out harder when I have someone to work out with. Lisa: I think you were pretty accurate! I am going to be supportive and be quiet only offering advice when asked - that is what I want when I get into a similar funk. Karey: You are right, she is a bitch! I have never met this woman and I sure don't want to now. I don't understand what people are thinking when they make comments like that. I too would have been hurt if my SIL said that to me. People that say hurtful things even in "fun" I believe do it to make themselves feel better and to try to mask their own insecurities.

Does anyone have a significant other that also battles their weight? My boyfriend is a bigger guy and always has been. When I met him he was probably somewhere around 250lbs standing 6'6'' tall. He's just a big guy, period. His weight yo-yo's as much as mine but in the 4 years we have been together he has never really said it bothers him, he's always seemed happy with himself. Last friday I was able to drag him to the gym, he admitted to me before we went in that our home scale no longer works for him and he's afraid of what he weighs. At the gym he hopped up and found he has gained 60lbs in the last 4 months and it seems to have him really down. He has talked about getting the band for a little while and if that is what he wants, I'm all for it. I provided him with literature and the link to forums to do his own research and make his own informed decision. He is like me and when we buckle down we can lose weight fairly easily however keeping it off is near impossible and is why he is now looking at the band. Then today rolls around, he calls me after work and something is really bothering him. He asked me to get his gym clothes together and meet him at the gym - this is something that NEVER happens. I asked what was bothering him and it took a bit to get it out of him (probably because he thought I'd be mad he was talking with his buddies) but the shortened version of the story is he told some of his friends at work about my upcoming breast augmentation, apparently he's really excited about it. One of the guy's told his wife. His wife was in the shop today and asked Jamie some questions about me and my decision and then asked "Does she want them big or do you?" Jamie responded in a kidding manner that he wanted them HUGE but I was only willing to go BIG and she then said "well I don't mean to be rude but don't you already have huge boobs of your own?" Although I'm sure she was just kidding the comment really struck a cord and threw him off. He is now so depressed about it and I can't seem to console him. He wont eat dinner, told me to only pack him a slim fast bar for lunch and has snagged a few phentermine from my medicine cabinet even when I asked him not to. He's way too quiet and a quiet Jamie means something is terribly wrong. I never knew he was this sensitive about his weight - I understand it and relate better than anyone but I don't know what to do or if there really is anything I can do. I have never been on this side of the fence...

Not sure how this happened but showing a loss of -4lbs. Maybe making up for last week...

Tami: I am also losing quite a bit of hair but it has slowed down thankfully, if it kept up at the rate it was I would have been bald in no time. I too went to my PCP and she sent my to a dermatologist the dermatologist took a look and confirmed there was nothing wrong with my hair or scalp and sent me to a nutritionist. Long story short it was lack of protien and proper vitamins. The nutritionist gave me a new diet tailored to my specific needs (75-80g of protien a day) and a list of vitamins I was to start taking. That was about 2 months ago and although I still shed it's 1/3 of what it was and my hair is growing back. As annoying as the whispy little hairs are I am happy to see them!

I had a few people notice at 20lbs loss but it wasn't until I hit 40lbs when my weightloss became a topic of everyday conversation with various collegues. I really didn't take notice myself until recently after a shopping trip.

I really want another fill but it's not for the right reasons. I like how I lose 5-7lbs the week following a fill and ususally 3-5 the week following that. a fill seems to kick me back into gear and I stop eating crap (as I shove an peanut M&M in my yap) and refocus. What stops me from making a fill appointment is I still have a reasonable amount of restriction and I don't want to overfill and slip but what sucks is my restriction is not consistant:(