StephC

I've found a little trick when eating out. When they bring my food I ask for a box right away, I tell them I'm not very hungry and I know I'll need to take it home. I put most of it in the box and leave what I think I can eat on my plate. Sometimes I even pick at that. I prefer to share a meal. I still love chinese buffets and I get a little bit of everything I love and take about one bite of each of it. Some people think its a waste of money but what difference does it make if I'm full on the first partial plate or full after 3 plates?

What is it with me and turtlenecks? Thought I'd put an update up. Before and during still about 25 lbs to lose.

Va - good to hear from you!!! So glad you're back! We're all still wishing the very best for the job situation. At least you are in the top 2! Thats a good thing. Bk - wtg on the 14's!!! You're rocking! I posted a couple pics on yahoo - I can't remember how to do the side by side - I need bman to help me again :mad:

I say leave it in - its an inspiration. The only thing I would suggest is that you add your height. I only say this bc I find myself saying things like I know a size 12 sounds small but remember I'm only 5'3" a 12 on me is alot different then a 12 on someone 5'6". I read somewhere that someone questioned you about why you want to be so skinny.. ha! I found that funny - especially when you said you don't have any fill! I was 103 when I got married (28 years ago!!) a size 3 then probably a 0 nowadays, I was 143 when I went home from delivering my first child, now my goal is 140! I can't imagine being 103 ever again, I have a hard time even imaging 130! Only time will tell - and another thing, you are only 27 - thats alot younger then alot of us. When I was 27 I was only a size 5/7 - age also plays a role. Keep you signature the way it is - theres alot of wannabes who need it.

hey girlfriends - just looking at our bmi's - wow- we've all gone down like 10 pts!! or more!!

Ibreham - you're so young I bet you're skin has all of its elastisity (ha is that a word?) in it still. I have a friend in her 30's who had bypass, she looks great, no saggy skin anywhere except her belly - which a tummy tuck could cure - but the older you are the less elasticisctiy... <-- jk cuz I can't spell it... if you look at the before and after pics they younger people have much better skin tone. Aren't you so happy you had this done now? Lucky you! To be young and to know you'll never be fat again. Don't worry about how long it takes.

oh forgot to update you on the lemon cake. I took a bite and that was it - tried a couple bites but realized that I just wasn't hungry and it wasn't as wonderful as I thought it'd be so that was that. I guess the snickers satisfied all the sweet cravings I had. Oh and another thing with this weight posting thing - TOM is due to arrive today - whether it happens or not is another story - but I'm claiming water retention!

morning girls! wow alot of saddness this past weekend. I'm so sorry Faith, I'd come help with the house too if I were there. As far as the house goes, I agree with Nat just focus on family, thats most important now. Claud keep us posted, I'll remember your family in prayer. Its in the headlines today and like Kay it doesn't really feel real until you know someone its happening to. Kaydoll - sounds like you had fun. We all wish we could've been with you. Your pics are fabulous!!! You no longer have a shelf butt ... remember that discussion? too dang funny! (or Nats muddass?) Nat - saw your pics you're looking hot! I feel the same way as you, one bad day isn't so bad and we are human and we do love sweets now and then. Just think if you'd have made the cookies then you'd be fighting the temptation not to eat them. And if you'd have carved the pumpkin it'd only rot sooner. There's always a bright side. Bk - Love you honey! I've missed you. You know what they say here in PA? New house new baby. Don't know if I mentioned it before but dh and I were married 5 years before #1 came along. I was on the pill the first 2 years and then it took 3 years of trying. Don't get discouraged and I tend to agree with the doctor, give it some time, you're still young, just enjoy the time you have with dh - sex him up every day and before you know it you'll be prego. Nikki - wowsa! You look great! And whats with the freeking collar bones!! I have none! I also used pregnancy as a license to eat but you're in a different phase of your life, just remember you'll get a fill again. My Brandi/Brandy girlfriends things are going to get better. All this misery over cars! I remember telling my neice when her dh got put in jail over unpaid fines (he sat one night) she was so worked up and I said its not the worse thing that could happen, theres no death involved, he isn't in the hospital and as bad as this all seems remember - this too shall pass. I know its frustrating and scarey and pissy and I'm sorry you're going through it but like Nat said think positive, feel positive and it'll all work out somehow. We love ya girls. Who did I miss? I'll tell you who I'm missing... VA - girlfriend where are you? Let us know you're doing ok. We miss you. Sweethot - darling you are a hottie! Enjoy that size 12 baby bc before you know it its going to be too dang big!!! Ok so these are my numbers for whoever cares. 231/172/-1/59 I have my size 12 petite jeans on, they are the stretch jeans by Levi, I can actually pull them down without unzipping them :omg: I kinda want to go get a size 10 just to see if I can get them on but dh already has been making comments about my closet. I told him nothing fits - seriously I have this closet full of clothes with nothing to wear so until I get that and my drawers cleaned out I don't dare go shopping. I guess I better get to work - yikes its 11:00!

hey girlfriends and Ibrahem!!! So remember way back when ... like December of 2006 when we were all fat and unhappy? Someone was going to track how much weight we've lost, anyone have that running total? I'm curious to see how far we've come.

:funscale:<---- count me in on the Monday weigh in's But leave me out of the exercise challenge - .. changing my mind... ok, I'll give it a try. Nothing too physical tho, just walking. <--- we can get through anything bc we have each other <--- it made me think of Sweethot :confused: :confused:<---- bc I'd probably drive you all crazy with these smilies I actually got my worst work done - quarterly taxes - so I'm wasting time. (sorry:nervous)

((((BMAN)))) It just blows my mind that this prosecuter has nothing better to do then focus at this speeding ticket. It almost feels like a Paris Hilton example thing happening. Although this is way different then dui. Claudia - hi sweetheart! Good to hear from you. Sweethot- just pick yourself up and get back on the bandwagon. I've done the same kinda stuff. Actually I just ate a snickers. I'm blaming TOM - he's due to arrive Monday. Even with the snickers I've had less then 500 cal. all day - just not the healthiest choice I could've made. And to top that off I'm having a peice of lemon cake tonight. :confused: :confused: :confused: LOL I've been craving it for 2 weeks! It probably won't be as good as my mind tells me but I'm gonna take a bite and see. I had my mil's b-day last Saturday and then the baby shower sunday and I nibbled at the cake, so I've been "good" long enough. <----- wacko - thats me bc I'm making excuses. Tomorrow when the damn scale isn't moving I'll be :angry Actually right now I'm alittle :confused: bc I ate it - and my band is really :angry bc a whole snickers bar is just more then it can hold right after a smart ones meal.

Bman - I think your body is in the classic starvation mode. I think you need to kick it up to 1000-1200 for a week or two and then go back down. You won't gain on 1200 calories - in fact you could probably jump it up to 2000 with the way you are exercising and still not gain an ounce. I'm not a doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last month.

LOL you got me!!! VA - where are ya mama? Hear anything about the interview yet? We're thinking of you.

Bman babe - its a plateau. Just keep up the good work and suddenly it'll take a nose dive right down to the 160's. And remember the closer you get to goal the harder it is to lose. Boo - did I respond about the eye? LOL I'm a bit slow at times. Good luck with the ticket. Annie - good to hear from you. There is no way I'll run my scale over. I don't think I'm too addicted. I can actually go a day without weighing myself and its usually when I go down that I get back on it later. Like the other day, that evening I hopped on and it still read the same as it did in the morning - I let out a whoop - YEAH - dh says something wrong? (He was being sarcastic) Kisses to all - I have a ton of work today.

Yes this is my eye - the other one was my daughters, did anyone notice I changed it? I know its kinda dumb but I just couldn't find another avatar that I liked. Scale or no scale? Scales are addictive. I have 2. I have the dear sweet one who is 4 lbs less then the dr scale (she's the one I listen to) and then I have a new fangled digital thats suppose to tell me how much I lost from the last time I stepped on her. Shes right on with the dr scale - but the dr's assistant told me to go by the one at home - so I choose the one that tells me sweet things. You girls crack me up when you say you hid the scale - if you know where it is it really isn't hidden. Kay I don't know if I'm too tight or what. I ate a slice of pizza for supper last night and I was fine. Thin crusted, without eating the edge crust. I just ate a piece of chicken, like a chicken tender and it was fine. I'm stuffed but not pb'ing stuffed. I haven't been tracking cal. since this fill but I'm guessing I'm between 600 & 1000 - depending on the day. Maybe less on some days. Who said they drink a couple glasses of water to keep from getting on the scale - sweethot? There is no way I can drink a couple glasses of water. I have to sip water. Sip sip sip - even when I'm dying of thirst and want to chug it down. Nat - poopy in the water - lol too darn funny! My kids never did that but my dog did poop in my car today. I had to run one to the vet for an allergy shot so while we were in the office the other dog was waiting impatiently in the car - I came out to a pile of poop on my front seat. She really is a Shit-zu! NSV well kinda - I'm down to nothing to wear now - so I'm digging in my closet this morning and find a pair of olive green slacks that were too darn tight for YEARS - and I'm feeling all "oh yeah I got a new pair of slacks to wear". Wrong. I put them off and they hung on me, they were way too big, size 14 - way too big? :omg: I was ticked bc I had hoped to wear them but it felt good to not fit them too. I completely missed wearing them. Bandiva - hey girlfriend! thanks for sharing that with us. I really needed to hear it from someone. I need to be extra careful bc I know I'm tight. :welldone2:On being 100 lbs lighter!!! Thats wonderful!!! Work sucks - I have to go work on next years budget. UGH!!! Theres so much crap going on here over raises and one is mad bc the other is getting a bigger raise... men are the most immature jerks! Speaking of men - Boo how sweet of him to think of you. Sounds beautiful - you'll have to take a pic and show us.

oh btw - Natster wtg on the nsv's!!!

sweethot - thanks sweetie - I have my good days and my bad days, today is a good day. I saw an old friend today, I haven't seen her since June and she said omg Steph you look great! I said well I've probably lost another 10 - 15 lbs since I saw you last and she said its not just that, you look great your hair, your face, everything! She knows I had the surgery and that I've been losing weight but I've been getting that alot lately. It seems these last few pounds are making more of a difference then the first 50! People always comment on the hair and truthfully I hate my hair right now, everyday I think I need a new cut. I just think its funny. OK OK ... I love it. Nat - you don't really hate everyone. You fuggin nut! Bman - we're all crossing our fingers for you. Its all going to turn out ok. Face the truth Steph - I'm too tight. I haven't eaten anything all day, except for 2 saltines, so I'm scrounging around the kitchen and I find some beef tenderloin from the dinner we had here (at the club) on Saturday. I eat one slice, not thick slice, maybe 2-3 oz, cut into tiny little peices, chewed very well, savoring each bite. Thought that the last 2 bites should have been eliminated - yep they were eliminated. I hate pb'ing!!! I must be too tight. What do you think? Too tight or bad food choice? Bman - good for you with the exercise - I've quit walking in the morning, its too darn dark. My evening walks are not consistant, still doing at least 2 miles every other night or so. I wish I could push myself to do weights and sit-ups. UGH!

I'm almost 5"3" and started at 231 and a size 16 (stretch) pants, 18/20 top, I'm 173 now, size 12 jean and large top. I set my goal for 140-150 and will see how I feel then. I'm belly round apple shape and it sound like most of you are too - So what shape are you?

OH and I'm down another pound this morning - 177 on the digital beast! Thats 173 on old faithful. I got weighed at the meeting last night (its held in the dr's office) and I was 178 - so yeah I gots me a smile on my face today.

oh .. Nat -- "fugg 'em" always get me rofl... :eek: :mad:

hi sweethearts! I went to support group last night, alot of wannabe's there, it was a good group. I did stress the fact that how fast you lose is how much work you put into it. There was a girl there that was banded 4 months ago and has only lost 17 lbs -she said she knew she wasn't eating right and needed the support group to get back on track. Then there are others who've lost 50 lbs in the past 4 months. Theres a guy there who's been banded a year without a fill and almost to goal, then theres me whos had 7 fills. It was a good group. I love all ya, we're so funny, total loyalty. Have a great day lovely ladies.

Bman babe you are gorgeous! And I kinda feel the same way about the before/after thread, its really hard to post anyway. You know we all have different body types, me with my big old jelly belly, others have the booty, some the booby - but we are all SMALLER and HEALTHIER! I also want to point out that she just had her surgery. She does not realize the work that goes into losing it as fast as you and Boo, Annie -all of you - it doesn't come off that fast unless you work at it

Was it the bra comment? Don't let it get to you. I've had boob comments since I've lost weight. One asked if I went down in bra size and my mil said it looks like my boobs have gotten bigger. I think what it really is is that the belly is smaller so the boobs look bigger. I think she must have thought you had a better bra on rather then that your waist line is smaller.

Bandiva tell us about your obstruction.