tonya66

Tracy, so glad you popped in, I've been watching your progress too! Your before & after shots look great! Baby - I'm not sure, but I think the port is also held in by fat? I'm going to ask the doc that question when I go see him on 2/12. I'm still holding in there, avoiding the scales and just trying to make good choices.

Great! I always notice in my jeans and clothes first, then the scales show up later.

LOL - not many for sure. They are hard core stuff for sure!

A new challenge to myself, How long can I go without Sugar? I was on day 3 until last night. However, I really don't feel I did too bad. We went out to the "all you can eat buffet", I fixed my plate and ate, I mainly ate a salad. Anyhow, after dinner, everyone was going for dessert, so I followed right along. I fixed me some of this warm chocolate cake and some bread pudding. Well, I had about 1 bite of the bread pudding and maybe 3 of(very small bites) the cake, it just wasn't that good and I didn't want to wast calories on something that I didn't really like. So, I just didn't eat anymore. But I decided instead of going for the cake, I should have just said NO. So now I'm going to challenge myself, how long can I go challenge. I like to have some type of snack at night, so I am having SF jello or SF pudding instead of my usual dessert. So - we'll start today, DAY 1! Menu Bfast 1 orange coffee with cream Lunch Roasted chicken salad Dinner Roast carrots Snack SF Jello, SF cool whip

A new challenge to myself, How long can I go without Sugar? I was on day 3 until last night. However, I really don't feel I did too bad. We went out to the "all you can eat buffet", I fixed my plate and ate, I mainly ate a salad. Anyhow, after dinner, everyone was going for dessert, so I followed right along. I fixed me some of this warm chocolate cake and some bread pudding. Well, I had about 1 bite of the bread pudding and maybe 3 of(very small bites) the cake, it just wasn't that good and I didn't want to wast calories on something that I didn't really like. So, I just didn't eat anymore. But I decided instead of going for the cake, I should have just said NO. So now I'm going to challenge myself, how long can I go challenge. I like to have some type of snack at night, so I am having SF jello or SF pudding instead of my usual dessert. So - we'll start today, DAY 1! Menu Bfast 1 orange coffee with cream Lunch Roasted chicken salad Dinner Roast carrots Snack SF Jello, SF cool whip

Hi Barbara (thats my mother's name too). Welcome! I am loving my 40's too, I am spending more and more time on "ME" for the first time in my life. I haven't focussed on "ME" since I was in my early 20's. Needless to say, another reason I got so out of shape, or should I just say, MORBIDLY OBESE as the doctors refer to it. lol. My kids are 15 & 17, and don't require as much of their mommy as they used to, so I spend more time on ME, and I think we deserve it!

Yes yes yes. I was about 40 1/2 when I had the band done and I remember being so surprised at the amount of pain I had and how long it took me to heal. I took 3 weeks off from work!

I thought I would share the above, I got it from my weekly/semi monthly newsletter from shapefit.com. They always have a lot of good information! I love it.

The Four KEY Areas To Be Addressed If You Want To Develop A Killer Midsection!!! 1. Nutrition 2. Interval Training 3. Resistance Training 4. Abdominal Training # 1. Nutrition You Absolutely cannot get your abdominals to stand out and trim your waistline, unless you address the area of nutrition. The only way to get your abs to stand out is to remove the layer of fat that is keeping them from been exposed. All the abdominal training in the world will do very little to remove the fat from your midsection. You need to look at your nutritional habits and meal planning, as well as using interval training and a full body resistance training plan to stimulate your metabolism and burn the fat that covers your abs. # 2. Interval Training SSC (Steady State Cardio) is good, but you really need to be using "Higher Intensity" interval training, in order to boost your metabolism and continue burning calories for several hours post workout. Interval training can be performed via circuit training or running, cycling, rowing, etc. Personally I prefer to use circuit training and running for my interval training workouts. I think most people are fairly familiar with circuit training, whether it's general strength circuits using just body weight exercises or circuits that combine bodyweight exercises and dumbbell exercises together. Basically you select anywhere from 6-12 exercises and usually perform for a certain work to rest ratio, going from exercise to exercise until all the exercises have been performed, then taking a prescribed rest period, before repeating the circuit a further 2-4 times. Circuit training is one of my favorite training modalities. Treadmill running is another great way to get in your high intensity interval work. Basically you will want your workout to last no more than 20 minutes, including a warm up and cool down period. Here's an example HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) Treadmill workout: 3 Minutes warm up period. 90 Seconds High Intensity Running. 60 Seconds Active Recovery (Walking at 5kmh or less) Repeat x 6 (This equals 15 minutes) 2 Minutes cool down period. If you find that during the 60 second active recovery period you want to walk faster than 5kmh or want to jog, this means that you were not working intensely enough during the 90 second high intensity running section. If you're working intensely enough you will need to walk slow, believe me! # 3. Resistance Training You Absolutely must piece together a full body, free weight based resistance training program, with the focus been placed upon the "BIG LIFTS" such as squats, deadlifts, Olympic lifts, lunges, presses and pulls. Theses exercises will do more for your abdominals than any isolation exercise or abdominal gadget could ever do. Just cause you don't feel "The Burn" in your abs, this doesn't mean they are not been stressed during these activities. # 4. Abdominal Training And yes you will want to incorporate some effective abdominal training exercises into your abdominal development plan, but you really don't need to do as many isolation based exercises as you think. You may need to recondition your thinking on this one, as it's hard to accept for most people. Here are some of the problems I see with people and their abdominal training routines: 1. Too much emphasis placed on trunk flexion. 2. Too many exercises performed in the supine position. 3. Too many repetitions and not enough load been used. Instead you should focus on: 1. Performing more rotational exercises. 2. Performing more exercises in the prone position. 3. Perform fewer repetitions and add some additional load to the exercises. The abdominals can be trained in many positions and with the use of various tools for the purpose of creating additional load. There are many tools available, but some of the more commonly used tools include: 1. Cable pulleys. Used for loaded kneeling crunches, chopping & rotational exercises. 2. Med balls, weight plates and dumbbells. Great for adding load to almost any exercise. 3. Stability balls are useful for some exercises, but personally I feel they are overused. 4. AB wheel. Great for forward and diagonal roll outs. You should also perform PSC (Pelvic Stability Circuits). These include all your prone (face down) supine (face up) and side position plank exercises, or elbowstands and handstands as I call them. The simple push up is, believe it or not, another great exercise for your abdominals. There are literally dozens of push up variations you can perform, so you will never get bored and if you want to further challenge yourself, you should try performing some stability push ups. Stability push ups are a very demanding core exercise and I would only suggest these for advanced individuals. Some people will perform them on stability balls, which is fine, but I personally like to perform them using my jungle gym apparatus from Lifeline USA or you could use a TRX Suspension Trainer or Blast Straps. The 6 Pack Abs - ABliteration Workout Here's One Little Abs Training Routine You Can Try Next Time You Train Your ABS! All You Need Is: Stability Ball - Bench or Chair - Enough SpaceHow To Perform The ABliteration Workout: Perform each superset x 2 with a 45-60 second rest interval between sets. Rest for 60-90 seconds between supersets. AB Superset A: A1 - Spiderman Push Ups x 10 (Slow) A2 - H2H Mountain Climbers x 20-30 (Super Fast) AB Superset B: B1 - Stability Ball S2S Knee Tucks x 10 (Slow) B2 - Cross Body Mountain Climbers x 20 (Moderate) AB Superset C: C1 - Stability Ball Knee Tucks x 15 (Slow) C2 - Mountain Climbers x 20 (Moderate) How To Perform The Exercises Exercise #1 - Spiderman Push Ups This exercise requires you to go from 4 contact points to 3 contact points. Assume a standard push up position on the floor, arms fully extended (up-position) and legs extended straight back, with the feet approximately 8-12 inches apart. Your hips and shoulders should be aligned, so that your back is parallel with the floor. From this position start lowering down into the push up down position, allowing the right foot to come off the floor and bringing the right knee forward towards the right elbow. In the bottom position your knee and elbow should almost or slightly touch. As you begin to the extend back up, start moving the foot backwards to the start position. The foot should touch back down as the arms return to the full extended position. From here you should repeat the action on the opposite side of the body until all repetitions have been performed. Individuals who cannot perform full push ups, can still perform the spiderman push up by starting off in a kneeling push up position and following all exercise cues as described above. Exercise #2 - H2H Mountain Climbers (H2H = Hand 2 Heel) This exercise requires you to go from 4 contact points to 2 contact points. Assume a standard push up position on the floor, arms fully extended (up-position) and legs extended straight back, with the feet approximately 8-12 inches apart. Your hips and shoulders should be aligned, so that your back is parallel with the floor. This exercise ultimately should be performed at high speeds, but at first it is best to go slow for learning purposes. Just remember that ultimately you want to perform at high speeds. Brace your abdominals as you bring your right knee forward towards the right elbow, allowing the lower leg to move inwards slightly towards the bodies midline. At the same time lift the left hand off the ground and bring it back to meet the right foot instep or tap the right heel. Return the right foot and left hand back to the start position and repeat on the opposite side, bringing the right hand to meet the left foot. Again, this exercise is ultimately to be performed at high speeds, but start slow and allow proceed to faster speeds once you have become efficient and provided your technique and posture isn't compromised. Exercise #3 - Stability Ball S2S Knee Tucks (S2S = Side 2 Side) This exercise can be performed using just a stability ball and placing the hands on the ground with the arms fully extended. Personally I like to, and feel it is best, to perform this exercise with the forearms resting across a bench or chair, similar to the position you would assume if performing a forearm plank or elbowstand exercise. With your forearms supported on a bench or chair, extend your legs back and onto the top of a stability ball. Your entire body should be pretty much parallel with the floor at this point. Brace your abdominals and slowly pull your knees forward towards your chest and slightly across the body to the right side. Hold this position for a split second before extending the legs back to the start position and repeating, this time pulling the knees forwards towards the left side of the body. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions. Exercise #4 - Cross Body Mountain Climbers This exercise requires you to go from 4 contact points to 3 contact points. Assume a standard push up position on the floor, arms fully extended (up-position) and legs extended straight back, with the feet approximately 8-12 inches apart. Your hips and shoulders should be aligned, so that your back is parallel with the floor. Brace your abdominals as you bring your right knee forwards and across the body towards the left elbow or armpit, keeping the foot close to the ground, but don't allow it to touch the floor. Extend the leg back to the start position and repeat on the opposite side, bringing the left knee forwards and across towards the right elbow or armpit. Return to the start position and repeat, alternating right and left until all repetitions have been performed. Exercise #5 - Stability Ball Knee Tucks This exercise can be performed using just a stability ball and placing the hands on the ground with the arms fully extended. Personally I like to, and feel it is best, to perform this exercise with the forearms resting across a bench or chair, similar to the position you would assume if performing a forearm plank or elbowstand exercise. With your forearms supported on a bench or chair, extend your legs back and onto the top of a stability ball. Your entire body should be pretty much parallel with the floor at this point. Brace your abdominals and slowly pull your knees forward towards your chest. Hold this position for a split second before extending the legs back to the start position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions. Exercise #6 - Mountain Climbers This exercise requires you to go from 4 contact points to 3 contact points. Assume a standard push up position on the floor, arms fully extended (up-position) and legs extended straight back, with the feet approximately 8-12 inches apart. Your hips and shoulders should be aligned, so that your back is parallel with the floor. Brace your abdominals as you bring your right knee forwards and across the body towards the left elbow or armpit, keeping the foot close to the ground, but don't allow it to touch the floor. Extend the leg back to the start position and repeat on the opposite side, bringing the left knee forwards and across towards the right elbow or armpit. Return to the start position and repeat, alternating right and left until all repetitions have been performed. Assume a standard push up position on the floor, arms fully extended (up-position) and legs extended straight back, with the feet approximately 8-12 inches apart. Your hips and shoulders should be aligned, so that your back is parallel with the floor. Brace your abdominals as you bring your right knee forward towards the right elbow, keeping the foot close to the ground, but don't allow it to touch the floor. Extend the leg back to the start position and repeat on the opposite side, bringing the left knee forwards and towards the left elbow. Return to the start position and repeat, alternating right and left until all repetitions have been performed. To increase the difficulty level and add additional load to the mountain climber exercises, you can loop a resistance band around your feet. Just make sure you loop it over the lace area of your shoes and that you keep the ankles dorsiflexed (toes pulled back towards the shin) as you perform the exercises, otherwise the resistance band will slip off. These are just a few useful exercises that I personally like to incorporate into my own abdominal routines. Just remember that these and all other isolation based abdominal exercises should only supplement a sound nutritional plan, interval training and full body resistance training program.

It sounds like you have such a wonderful support group! You are so blessed!

I'm staying on plan today because It felt so good yesterday when I did, and it feels so good to be back in control!

WTG! :frown:

PS - I'm also going to an ABS, ABS, ABS class tonight at my gym. Its only 15 min long, and it works nothing but your abs. I'm starting now so by June, I might be bathing suit ready for my cruise! I would love to be able to wear a bikini, however, at this point, I would just like to wear a bathing suit and not look like a huge floppy whale. I would like not to have the jiggle going on and be firm and tight.

I would love to buy an elliptical or a really good workout machine, something for cardio, however, I just don't know where I would put it. My house is so full right now with stuff. I think once my kids move out, I will take one of their rooms and turn into a workout room. Not that I want them to move out (they are only 17 & 15 right now). But it does give me something to look forward to - some day. I did two 15 min sessions yesterday on the elliptical machine, and I felt good afterwards. So I am very happy. TOM has arrived, and I feel so bloated, so I haven't weighed, but I know if I stick with eating right and exercising that the weight will come off so I'm not worried and really excited these days because I've finally got mind right, and recommitted myself. It feels so good to be back in control!

I finally received my call from the hospital to schedule my fill - YAY. I am so glad that the doctor that does fills has started doing them more than 1 day a week now. He used to do them only on Fridays, and it would take 2 months to get in to see him. Now he is doing them on Tuesdays and Fridays. From my last two fills, having them done on a Friday and having to go back to the hospital on a Saturday was not working out, so I made sure I got this one scheduled for the Tuesday. So I get to go back Feb. 12! Also, I forgot to mention that something weird happened to my port. I have been having this horrible pain off and on where my port is. I posted some under the complications thread, but it actually felt like my port was ripping away from my side, I figured it was muscle spasms, I get those a lot when I get low on potassium, so I was eating bannans and that still wasn't helping. Anyhow, when I got this last fill, the doctor said my port was laying side ways, it is trying to flip. He was still able to get my fill in by pushing on it, however, last night, I felt some more ripping, so I sure hope when I go for my fill he is able to get one in. The problem he said is that I don't have much fat around my stomach area, and I've lost so much weight, it is a common problem. If it creates problems, they will have to relocate it. I'm hoping I can get this fill in and then won't really need another fill, so I'm a bit worried about having a flipped port. Sula - I've noticed that I cannot lose weight if I go above 1000 calories, I have to stick to around 800 to 1000 in order to lose, anything about 1000 usually stalls me. Even when I'm exercising. BGB - glad to see you online, I've been wondering where you have been. I've started my exercising again, but I would love to have a personal trainer. I'm thinking that in March I might get one. I'm trying to pay our cruise off first, (still owe $5K) and then I can have some extra money for a personal trainer. I would love to be able to wear a bikini on my next cruise (June 29th).:frown: Jen - hang in there, I do think that sometimes our bodies just refuses to let go of our fat. I was watching the Biggest Loser (I'm totally addicted to this show) and these people are working out 5 to 8 hours a day, with personal trainers, and some weeks they may lose 10 lbs, other weeks, 0. The trainer said sometimes the body just refuses to let go. I also have learned from experience that inches usually come before the scale will move. It sometimes takes 8 to 9 weeks of exercising and eating 100 % perfect and then the scale starts moving. So don't give up, I think a lot of us are struggling - it must be the 1 year curse? lol. I have an appointment today with my opthamologist to check my eyes out, I'm hoping my vision has improved even more. My eyes are still pretty dry, but are getting better. I can see pretty clear, just having a slight blurred vision in the distant, but this is common, my DH experienced it to, and by 1 month post op, he was 20/15 and no side effects. He still has a little dry eyes,but he had them before surgery. Well, gotta run...................

I had a hard time turning 40, I was so depressed about it. I weighed the most I had ever weighed and looked like I was 60 instead of 40. I felt like I was 70 too. I am now 1 year post op, and am 41 (will be 42 in August) and I feel better than I did when I was 30. I look better than I have looked in so long. I walk with my head held high and people are shocked when I tell them I'm 41. I'm proud to say that I am a member of the fabulous forties now! Although my last 6 months have been so rocky for me, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm back on track again and I know that I will reach my goal this year and I will be at my goal when I turn 42!

Fill #1 - 3/6/07 - 2.2cc's Fill #2 - 4/17/07 - 3.0cc's Fill #3 - 7/6/07 - 3.5 cc's (I think it was only 2.5cc's because when I went back for fill #4, he could only w/draw 1.8 cc's) Fill #4 - 7/20/07 - filled me back to 3.0 ccs - He should have filled me more! Fill #5 - 8/17/07 - 3.4cc's Fill #6 - 10/08/07 - filled me to 3.8cc's - the restriction I've ever had,but still could eat big bites of food, so I figured I needed to be tighter. Fill #7 - 11/21/07 filled to 4.0 cc's. By the evening could not hold anything down, not even my saliva. PBing all night - horrilble experieince 11/23/07 - Unfill - Got unfill and because of the swelling and all the PBing, doc took my fill down to 3.0cc's. NO RESTRICTION AGAIN Fill #8 - 1/18/08 Went in and the doc filled me back up to just right under 4.0, according to Flouro, it was perfect. Well, by next morning, could not hold down saliva again, ended up back in hospital and the Doc had to take me back down to 3.0. grrrr. Now I'm back where I was in November, barely restriction again. Fill #9 - Scheduled for 2/12 at 8 am. This time I will not let him fill me to 4.0, I will only go to 3.8 or a bit higher where I was at Fill #6.

Fill #1 - 3/6/07 - 2.2cc's Fill #2 - 4/17/07 - 3.0cc's Fill #3 - 7/6/07 - 3.5 cc's (I think it was only 2.5cc's because when I went back for fill #4, he could only w/draw 1.8 cc's) Fill #4 - 7/20/07 - filled me back to 3.0 ccs - He should have filled me more! Fill #5 - 8/17/07 - 3.4cc's Fill #6 - 10/08/07 - filled me to 3.8cc's - the restriction I've ever had,but still could eat big bites of food, so I figured I needed to be tighter. Fill #7 - 11/21/07 filled to 4.0 cc's. By the evening could not hold anything down, not even my saliva. PBing all night - horrilble experieince 11/23/07 - Unfill - Got unfill and because of the swelling and all the PBing, doc took my fill down to 3.0cc's. NO RESTRICTION AGAIN Fill #8 - 1/18/08 Went in and the doc filled me back up to just right under 4.0, according to Flouro, it was perfect. Well, by next morning, could not hold down saliva again, ended up back in hospital and the Doc had to take me back down to 3.0. grrrr. Now I'm back where I was in November, barely restriction again. Fill #9 - Scheduled for 2/12 at 8 am. This time I will not let him fill me to 4.0, I will only go to 3.8 or a bit higher where I was at Fill #6.

I'm staying on plan today because I want to prove to myself that I can do it!

I did it, I did it, I did it! I did go exercise and I was able to do 15 min on the Elliptical machine WITHOUT PAIN! I'm so excited, I have always LOVED the Elliptical, I think it contributed a lot to my weightloss. However, since my knee surgery, I have not been able to do it for very long before the pain would shoot thru my knee and cause me to swell. Well, yesterday I gave it another shot and I even kicked it up some and it didn't hurt until the very end, and it was just a mild pain, I could handle it. I don't want to push it very much more, but I will continue doing it and hopefully each week I can continue to kick it up. I'm just so excited. I think my knee troubles are about to be the past! I just cannot wait until I can really kick my exercise up, like doing squats and lunges again! I love those and so do my ARSE. Well, not really but it does shrink that area. lol. Anyhow, doing the elliptical yesterday was my NSV. I took your advice Sula and made sure that I wore a sweat band as to not get the sweat in my eyes, it worked. I plan on doing the elliptical again today and my weights. Hope everyone else is doing okay. Pilates is fun and I have taken some classes, I can gell it really works my core. After I can conquer my elliptical, I might try and take a palates class at the gym.

Thanks Debbie. I do think I have some restriction right now because I had to slow down on eating my oatmeal this morning. So, I was happy about that. I just need to get over my quest for the perfect sweet spot and quit using the "no restriction" as an excuse. I realized that I am not losing weight because I have QUIT using the band as a tool and started letting the band do all the work. Well, it doesn't work that way. I am living proof, it just can't be done. So, I am really trying hard and I know I keep saying this, but I keep failing but I'm not going to give up! I haven't stepped on the scales because I know I've gained and I'm basically scared of what they are going to say. I am exercising, however, 80% of our weightloss is due to what we eat, and I know mine has not been good. I went to the grocery store and I threw out all the junk in my house. I have threatened to tar and feather anyone who brings sweets into our house, and if they do, they better not let me find them or they are in big trouble. I moved the candy dish off my desk, I brought to work healthy snacks like SF jello, and fresh fruits and veggies. So I am putting a plan into place so I will not and cannot fail. If I get a fill in the next month, GREAT, if not, I am still not going to fall into the rut of eating just to be eating and just because I don't have restriction. I really do think that my mind is finally right, and I'm ready to get to my goal. I've set a personal goal that I will reach my goal weight by June so I better get started in order to reach it. I have also made a rule at my house that I will not eat after 7:00 pm. Anything after that will only be non calorie liquids, like water or some hot greet tea, period. I will exercise everyday, no matter what! It felt so good yesterday to be on the elliptical machine. I was able to do 15 minutes without pain. This is a first for me, I was only able to do 5 min. before the pain would shoot thru my knee and I would force myself to do 10 min, and by the time I got off, my knee was swollen and I would have to ice it down. I'm so excited that I think I'm about to be able to kick my exercise up! Okay, well, better get to work and quit rambling on about myself.

still waiting on the hospital to call so I can schedule my fill! Yes, this will be fill #9 I think. - UPDATE - THEY CALLED (YAY :redface:) MY FILL APPT IS 2/12 AT 8 AM! However, I am eating oatmeal this morning and have had to slow down a bit, so I do have some restriction! I just need something for my head, something to help with my sweet tooth. Anyhow, I'm struggling, and I have got to get control so working very very hard at it. Menu today Bfast low sugar oatmeal coffee/cream Lunch chicken breast 1/2 cup of greens I had planned to eat the above for lunch, however, went out to lunch with my sil who was in town, she wanted mexican, I only ate 3 chips & salsa, and had 1 enchilada, no rice and a bite of two of beans. Not that great, but I feel I didn't do as bad as I could have done. I tried to eat slow and stop when I was full. I left another enchilada on the plate when we left and I didn't get a to go box. I didn't want it lingering around for me to eat! Dinner fish green beans Snack SF jello PS - I DID GO EXERCISE YESTERDAY!! AND WILL DO IT AGAIN TODAY! UPDATE - 10:26AM - just got back from the gym downstairs, took a 15 min break and went and jumped on the Elliptical. Did 15 min, 1.11 miles and burned 140 calories (according to the machine, not sure how accurate they are). I am so excited, I feel like the "old" me is BACK! UPDATE - 3:34 PM - Just got back from the gym downstaris and did another 15 min on the elliptical. 1.12 miles, burned 141 calories. Yay me!

still waiting on the hospital to call so I can schedule my fill! Yes, this will be fill #9 I think. - UPDATE - THEY CALLED (YAY ) MY FILL APPT IS 2/12 AT 8 AM! However, I am eating oatmeal this morning and have had to slow down a bit, so I do have some restriction! I just need something for my head, something to help with my sweet tooth. Anyhow, I'm struggling, and I have got to get control so working very very hard at it. Menu today Bfast low sugar oatmeal coffee/cream Lunch chicken breast 1/2 cup of greens I had planned to eat the above for lunch, however, went out to lunch with my sil who was in town, she wanted mexican, I only ate 3 chips & salsa, and had 1 enchilada, no rice and a bite of two of beans. Not that great, but I feel I didn't do as bad as I could have done. I tried to eat slow and stop when I was full. I left another enchilada on the plate when we left and I didn't get a to go box. I didn't want it lingering around for me to eat! Dinner fish green beans Snack SF jello PS - I DID GO EXERCISE YESTERDAY!! AND WILL DO IT AGAIN TODAY! UPDATE - 10:26AM - just got back from the gym downstairs, took a 15 min break and went and jumped on the Elliptical. Did 15 min, 1.11 miles and burned 140 calories (according to the machine, not sure how accurate they are). I am so excited, I feel like the "old" me is BACK! UPDATE - 3:34 PM - Just got back from the gym downstaris and did another 15 min on the elliptical. 1.12 miles, burned 141 calories. Yay me!

Well, I could eat about 2 oz of meat, and maybe a little vegies. However, I could take regular bites of food and didn't really have to chew, so I figured I needed another fill. I think I might need a tad bit more than 3.8 but not much. At this point, I would be happy to be where I was before.

Thanks Lynn, When I go in for my next appointment, I'm going to have me fill me up to 3.8 and maybe a little more and then stop. Hopefully I can get some restriction because I know I was pretty good at 3.8 just not quite enough. I should have just stayed at 3.8. Until then, I'm going to just try and diet. I've got to get away from the sweets. I moved my bucket of candy off my desk at work, I took it to someone elses desk, I've cleared my drawers at work of all junk, and I have demanded my family not to make any more brownies, cakes, etc in my house. If they make it, they better hide it and not let me know about it. lol. I will be having withdrawls I'm sure this week, but I got to do it!