Kaydotrn

Hey Girls! I am alive and well-just super inundated with school work and family obligations..AND DH was laid off a couple weeks and totally took over my computer. grrr. He is back to work as of today and my life seems a little more routine. I cannot believe how well everyone appears to be doing. That is wonderful! I am on the 3rd or 4th week of my plateau but I think things are starting to budge. I feel enormous even though I know I am smaller than I have been in years. I think I am just frustrated at my hard work not making the scale move for so long. Truth be told, I could be eating a little better and I am sure that has a lot to do with it. I am up to 26 minutes of jogging now. I am hopefully going to meet my 30 minutes goal by April 1st! I usually walk for 5, run for as long as I am up to, then walk until I hit 45 minutes. My cardio endurance has improved amazingly! I don't even get that out of breath anymore, just my legs get tired. REALLY tired to the point of limping sometimes. I am actually going to head out in a minute and see if I can get a quick jog in. Anyway, thanks to all for the shoutout. I am going to try to come on tonight and read up on all the posts. I am excited to hear from everyone. Be well girls. Miss you all.

Hey Girls- I have been insanely busy and hectic, but I am thinking of you all. (I am here Steph in spirit!). ((Nat)) PM me when you can. Love you girl!!!! I am calling out for help girls. I don't know WTF is up with me but I am on a bit of a bender. Not eating tons the past week, but definitely not making good choices. I got my first "stuck" food this past weekend...a chinese chicken finger..WTF? I didn't even eat that crap before this surgery. I have a weird introspective idea of why I am doing this self sabotage and I feel weird posting, but here goes...I think I am deathly afraid of being thinner. I know, stop laughing since this chick is still about 220 lbs...but I am feeling so much better of myself. I bumped into an old flame last week and flirted my stuff. You wouldn't mind, but I have the most wonderful husband and I have no business entertaining thoughts of other men (okay, I can entertain but certainly not act on them). I truly don't think I ever would, but there is this weird part of me that fears me getting more comfortable with myself. I am being all Dr. Phil, but I think it goes back to the fact that growing up, my dad was totally adulterous...cheat cheat cheat. My mom knew about girlfriends..I remember my Dad's g'friend when I was about 5, she gave me a birthday gift-yup, nice and damaging Dad, thanks. So I think I have this ridiculous fear that I have caught the adultery bug, and keeping me fat and totally resistable keeps things in check. Am I ready for the nuthouse, or what? At any rate, I need your support to get myself on track..stop eating the junk. No more chips and oreos that I have been sneaking every night for the past week. I feel like coming clean to you all will help me to admit this and get it in check before I do some real damage. Thanks in advance for your support girls!!!! I will check in later...be well everyone. BTW B-man, I just noticed your weight..I am so freakin happy for you! You are working it out girl. Way to go.

Happy Monday- DH is home and has decided that today is the day to clean out our bedroom...top to bottom, drawers closet etc. ARGH. It is great, but I am totally not in the mood for this today and of course look like a slouch for being on the computer now. ho-hum Welcome home Nat...what are you giggling about? You have piqued my curiosity. Give yourself a few days home before you believe the scale. If it makes you feel better, by scale says I am up 2 flippin pounds! I swear it has something to do with the fact that I have been running. My legs are screaming and I think I am hanging onto a lot of Water. I can feel it. I am not freaking out yet, but I need to knock some shit off. I have been doing way too much eating of little bits of crap. Justifying that it is only a little so it is okay. It's not okay because it gets in the way of me eating healthy food. I need to go back to journaling for a bit. I will jump on the fresh start bandwagon with you. If you want to trade food journals or something, let me know. I just threw out some Cookies that I brought home from a get together yesterday because I knew I would eat them. Small victory. Steph-wtg on the exercise. I think it is totally a mind game. I haven't done it yet today and need to get it done soon. I will..it just isn't easy sometimes. Especially if there is the slightest deviation in my day, I throw in the towel. VA-hope the son is feeling better soon. Bummer about the foot. I hear you on the stress eating. just get back on track. I know you can do it! You will feel all the better for it (I need to take this advice myself!). Banannie-I go to a co-ed gym too. I was intimidated at first but it doesn't phase me anymore. I pretty much ignore the guys. Although I always feel funny when I clean the arm handles on the elliptical machine, thinking the guys on the treadmills behind me get a cheap thrill out of that..can you picture what I mean? I swear, guys think that way! My brother in law confirmed it one day when we were joking about that..ewwww. Have a good day all..BTW, I got a 90% on my exam. Yay me.

OMG-I do the same thing. I was at a dinner recently and a woman there has lost about 100 pounds. I watched her like a hawk as she ate. I am not proud. I did notice that she ate very little food and just nibbled. I am 90% convinced she had it done.

Hi Girls, Just checking in to say that I went to the gym today, got on the treadmill and jogged for 20 MINUTES!!!! I am amazed at myself. My legs and hips are so sore but it feels good. I am definitely going to get to 30 minutes this month. I walk the rest of it until I reach 5K. I think it took me 45 minutes total today, but I hope to someday soon be able to run the whole thing. Sweethot-I am so glad to hear from you!!! Hope all is well~

Happy March! My goal this month is to be able to run 1/2 hour straight by April 1st. I am up to 15 minutes as of today and I am psyched. I feel wonderful. I cannot believe I have progressed to that point. I always do about 45 minutes of elliptical, but to run is truly a major accomplishment for me. I used to jog sporadically in college but that was many moons ago. Good luck girls with all of your goals. We can do it.

Hey Girls, Just checking in. Exam tonight. UGH!!!! I am so nervous. Wish me luck. I should be studying some more right now, but of course I am here procrastinating. Went out for breakfast with hubby this morning. Had a yummy poached egg and some hash. It was so good. I ate slowly and stopped when I knew I had had enough. I am a little more full now than usual. But not at all stuffed. Hubby loves this because he gets all my "extras"..all my toast, home fries, extra egg etc. He is a sow. But it is cheaper since he would have ordered extra sides of food besides the meal he got. It kills me that he stays trim and has good bloodwork and all that and eats the way he does. MEN! Humph. It was nice to be out without the kids. Nat-sorry about the fighting with your friend. I hate the jealousy crap. I am a little surprised he is getting that way since you guys are not really all that heavy yet..y'know? Maybe it will be all good when you get back, but keep this behavior in your file. Take control and don't let him create any drama. Your little boy is lucky to have some "family" time whether mommy and daddy are "together" or not and that is the priority right now. Enjoy those sunshiny days before you come back. Have a safe flight home. NIkki-I think I am only down about 29 since the 18th of December...I think we are doing great. 18 I lost pre-op. You are in this for the long haul. Just keep plugging away. I too am working really hard. There are many days that I want things and I will myself not to eat them. I workout a lot more than I ever did before. This is no walk in the park. I knew that going in though. I have a tool that will help but I still have to put in the effort to make it work. It is a little more work than I had planned on it being, as the band doesn't stop me from grazing all day long if I get in those moods. I can definitely eat around it (all too easily I have found). Hang in there though girls...ultimately we will get there and in our own time. I do empathize with the pressure some get with everyone watching them, knowing they had surgery, and wondering how much they have lost. I think that there is this expectation that we should all be skinny by now. Only a small handful of people know that I had surgery so there is no explanation necessary. I knew I wouldn't be able to handle the "diet in a fishbowl" feeling. There I go babbling and not studying... Bannanie-way to go on that cardio girl. I bet you are feeling great. B-man-have a good yoga session. Steph-Hope you are feeling better. VA-are you feeling okay? I think you were under the weather too.

Morning everyone...I am in countdown mode to my exam (thursday) when I think I will be a normal person again at least for a couple weeks. I am studying 24/7, my house is a wreck and I couldn't tell you what my kids look like. It is tough...Why did I not take school more seriously when I was younger???!!!??? Okay, enough of my whine. Aside from that, I am good. I feel good. I have a decent amount of restriction. Last night I made a little burger with grilled onions and a side of broccoli. I ate 2 bites of burger and it felt terrible. I think I cooked it too long and it had no juciness to it at all. So I stopped eating. That was a lesson learned. I never really felt that before. I find I am eating pretty much whatever, but small portions. I am hooked on this Cream of Mushroom Soup from an area market..it is incredible. I imagine it has more calories than I need, but I only eat a cup and I justify it that it is a small portion (I have it once a week). I really should just start making my own and then I can control what is in it. I am weighing in today. I hope to be down a couple pounds. We'll see. I really wanted to hit my 50lbs by March 1st but I think that may not happen. Close though... Nat-I am definitely unpopular here, but I would not tell the man about the scars. I would say Gallbladder or that you had a cycst removed. That is just me. I am so secretive about this surgery and I would fear that if things didn't work out, he would tell others. If you are comfortable with other people knowing, than I would tell him. I just fear that you can never undo it once he knows. Besides you can always tell him the truth later, your medical history is really your business and he cannot hold that "lie" against you. I know it seems irrational to keep this whole surgery a secret, but I do it. I don't want to be judged. The reality is, I am working harder now than I ever have to lose this weight. I am at the gym a lot so anyone who thinks this is the easy way out can stuff it. But I just don't have the activist in me anymore that wants to have to plead my case...But I digress.... Do what you feel in your gut girl. I think it is will steer you in the right direction. Okay..little one is home sick (again) and wants pancakes so I have to run. I will check back later.

Happy Monday-thanks Steph, btw for sticking that silly manic monday song in my head..grrrrrr. j/k We had a great weekend. Hectic, but really fun...my husband was with the Stanley Cup this weekend and I swear I have never seen him happier. I think this weekend may only compare to the birth of our children for big moments in his life. Too funny. To me, it is just a hunk of metal (he would shoot me if he knew I said that so keep it quiet-hehe). At any rate, it was a nice weekend. Yesterday after his game we were at a pub for lunch and everything was fried..ugh. I had some Nachos and a chicken finger and that was it. So as much as it was not quality food, it was not much. I just came home and had some chicken and veggies to try to get something remotley healthy into my body! I went to the gym today for the first time in a week. Having the kids home on vacation really fouled up my routine and it felt so good to be back there and cranking on the elliptical and hitting the weights. I am up to 180 situps at a time. Working to hit 200 soon. I am amazed at how much easier they have gotten for me. When I first started doing them, I would shake and felt so akward. Now I can get through them no sweat. I feel it later, but it is not as grueling. Cool. I think the scale has gone down a couple pounds, but not a lot yet. We'll see on Wed when I get weighed in. B-man-hope the MD appt went okay. Keep us posted. How was the yoga? I love yoga but haven't done it in a long time. Nat-it is a good thing that you didn't get that heart flutter when you saw the ex. There is nothing worse when you still have those feelings even though you know it is a dead end. I have 2 men in my life that sadly sometimes get me like that when I see them. I finally got over one of them and I felt so free, the other one I still get awfully excited to see...he is just so darn adorable. I would never act on it, but I get all giddy around him. Luckily I only see him once or twice a year. He and DH grew up together and DH knows I get like that but is okay. He knows I am not going anywhere-the boy does not have an insecure bone in his body. At any rate..enjoy the warmth, it is snowing here! Steph-way to go on all the compliments this weekend. Sounds great. I tell you, I find that I have my fun personality back. When I was out Friday night, I had a blast and it is because I don't feel like hiding my fatness...I am out to have fun, I know I look better, I feel better and more confident. It is great. I am glad you had a similair night! Have a good day to all the ladies! See you later.

Hi Everyone! Rainbow-sounds like you had a nice meeting with Chrispy. She is a lot of fun! I wish I could have made it. Definitely count me in next time. Does your partner have Diverticulitis? Is it a flare up or just diagnosed? Either way I hope it is not too bad and everyone is feeling alright! Sherry-are you feeling better? What is wrong? There are so many ucky germs going around lately. I feel like someone has been sick in my house everyday for weeks. Jonn.."stormbrewin" is going in for surgery? What is his date? Hopefully by now he is out and feeling better. Welcome to the club John and I hope you are feeling well. Still thinking I will bump into you one of these days at the gym. If you need anything, PM me. Chrispy-when are we getting together again? I hope all is well. You pictures looked fantastic. Way to go. I got my first fill a week ago this past Thursday. I am feeling good. I am getting used to the whole restriction thing since I didn't have any for a while and was basically "dieting" the weigh off. I was still losing, but definitely relying on willpower, which was quickly running out of steam. I am almost down 50 pounds. I think I am at 48 but I am not 100% sure until I go for an official weigh in. I have not made it to the gym at all this week with the kids home from school and my school schedule is so hectic so I am looking forward to getting back into my routine. I am feeling better now than I have in years. I still have quite a way to go, but I feel more human. It is great. I hope all is well with everyone. Leah, I hope the date with your son was nice! Sounds sweet. I look forward to getting together again. Anyone have any ideas? I won't be at the reunion since it is a school night for me. I think you will all have a great time though. Sherry-are you feeling better?

Hello Everyone! Quick check in...life has been insanely busy this week. I had 2 clinicals which totally wipes me out both physically and emotionally. I had a deusy of a patient last night who had raging diabetes. She was only 38 and so sick with her disease. It was so sad to see. She wasn't overweight but I still couldn't help thinking that this surgery may just have saved me from a future of battling this terrible disease. I imagine that sounds self absorbed, but it was an "ah-ha" moment. I have the kids home on school vacation, DH home from work due to the cold ground (can't do much underground utility work this time of year) and it has totally thrown off my routine. I have not had 1 exercise session this week and I feel it. I will be back to my routine ASAP. Can't wait for the kids to go back to school (bad mom!). BBK-hope all goes well with jury duty. Sh@t happens..I am sure you are not the only one to miss jury duty. VA-sounds like your fill is great. I am still getting used to mine. Just transitioned to solids today. I am definitely eating less and more satisfied, but not seeing any loss yet. I think it is due to the missing workouts. I am not sweating it though, I feel great despite what the scale says! Steph-love you girl. Glad you feel so wonderful. Now ::smack:: on the butt and get in some workouts (like I should talk but you asked for the wack in the butt). Sounds like you had a great meeting. I have not gone to any of mine since they coincide with my school nights. I too would like to meet more local people. But to be honest, I don't feel like I am missing out on any support because I have all of you! SLNP-Hope the workout was good. Sounds like you are doing great. Brandi-you rock those exercise classes! Way to go. I hope your trip to see your friend is great. It is fun seeing people when you have made such great changes. Enjoy. Nat-I will miss you. Have a great vacation. The website I bought my samples from was bariatriceating.com. I did not realize they have a store. Very cool. What a nice place to buy souveniers..ahem...hehe Glad to hear about the good sleep too. BK-way to go on the daycare. I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. It is so great to find something you are passionate about. I know you will be fantastic and caring with the kids. Claudia-glad you are feeling better. It happens to all of us. I also think for me, I spent so many years eating my feelings. When we don't do that, we then have to actually "feel" them, which is scary!!!! Just keep working it out, I think it will all regulate itself. I am off...I just wanted to say hello and have a great weekend. We are very busy this weekend (with mostly great stuff) so I may not see you all until Monday. Later hot stuffs!

(((Bandiva))) my long lost surgery sister! Glad to see you are around and nice to hear from you. Way to go on the loss. Steph-you look fantastic. Way to go. Your hard work is definitely paying off and it shows! Girls-I just wanted to say hi, I am here and I read the posts, but I am super swamped with school work and will post more after I get through this next exam. Just know that I am here rooting for us all. Take care and be well!

I have been attending WW since the months before I was banded. I decided to attend in order to lose the 10lbs prior to surgery recommended by my MD. I have continued to attend because the support has been wonderful. I love my meeting and my meeting leader. I use the daily good health guidelines and make sure to get all my correct servings of foods (even though they are much smaller) and I enjoy the accountability of the weekly weigh in. No one knows at my meetings that I have had WLS and that is something that I felt very conflicted about. BUt the more I think about it, I could choose to still eat chips, candy and ice cream as it goes down without a hitch...but for the most part I do not, and if I do, I acknowledge my indulgence by writing it down and admitting it to myself, as opposed to the mindless eating I did in the past. And another thing, I go to the gym at least 5x/week and bust my butt. So my weightloss is still being done "the hard way" in my book. Sure, I have a tool that helps with portion control (thankfully!), but I still have to work it to be healthy. I love my WW meetings and will continue to go. My surgeon and nutritionist gave me a thumbs up for it too.

I know how you feel..though I don't get many people saying I am getting too thin, I do find that I lose weight from the top down. So my face and neck are thinning out but the rest of me is a little slow to catch up!!!

I would love to go, but Montreal is a little far off for me...I will be with you in spirit. I hope to catch them when they are here at Fenway Park!!!

Good evening everyone... I imagine most of you are off to bed. Wonder what Nat is dreaming about tonight...like I would have to venture far to figure out what is going on in that little mind of hers.... I got my fill today. I went in unsure. Told the doc that I don't feel like I have any restriction. That I am not starving but I definitely have to talk myself out of eating more often than I did before. I told him I felt that I was getting by mostly on willpower. He was happy with my 9lb loss since my visit 4 weeks ago but said he didn't want me to not be satiated and felt I needed a fill. I got 1cc (standard 1st dose in 4cc band?). It was the weirdest feeling...as I am sure most of you know since I think I am the last to get the fill. The funniest is that I was there with the nutritionist getting transitioned onto Stage 5 foods which is pretty much whatever I want to eat, in moderation and meeting your good health guidelines of daily fruit/veggie/meat/dairy/grain servings. Ah but wait, now that I had a fill I am back on liquids for 4 days and mushies for 4 days. So in 8 days I will get to try to eat real food again..yay me. Thanks all for the encouragement to get through that whole thing. I felt prepared thanks to all of you! Brandi-hang in there girl. I am thinking of you. I know that holiday is tough for lots of people and I know you have been through a lot lately. Love yourself girl. You deserve it, you are worthy and the right person will see that. Heal yourself...I know it hurts, but it will happen. At any rate, we love you and all you offer to us in the form of support and friendship (and great sense of humor)...that may not keep you warm at night, but I hope it is some small consolation. I am beat and have to get some shut eye...see you all in the AM

Okay, I am off to MD today. Still hemming and hawing about having a fill. I can definitely eat more than I am probably supposed to. I am "dieting" more than my band is doing anything for me. I am certainly torn...I will let you all know today how it goes. Thanks for your encouragement. Steph-good luck with your mom and the rest of your "dysfunctional family"..that made me giggle...don't we all have that? Glad the house is looking good. That is always uplifting. Hubby sounds like he did a great job for Valentine's Day. Good boy..sounds like a keeper. BK_next gift exchange I would love to have more of us involved. It was fun and even if it is just small things or postcards or an inspirational card exchange. It is nice to be loved and reminded that we matter to someone who knows where we are coming from! Annie-yup, time for a name change! no more chubbygirl. Steph was funny with girlpreviouslyknownaschubbygirl hehehehe Kirsten-thanks. I do believe that once in a whiles are okay. I had a tough time with my kids chocolate yesterday. It wasn't even the good kind but I ate a fwe pieces..then this morning I woke up with, as Nat calls it, my p-rot. hehe. It amazes me that after getting it for 20+ years, every dang month, it still takes me by surprise and I have that "ah-ha" moment _"oh, that is why I have been eating more sweets and been a cranky biatch, and cried over a FedEx commercial" DUH. LOL Nat-I am really sorry work has been such a drag. Please feel free to spill the dirty details to me if you need to get them out. I have no excitement, and you know I will get my angry on with you. Sorry little man is still not feeling 100%. yuck. And sorry big-man is having some responsibilities last night. Okay and what is a pocket boyfriend? This girl has a dirty mind and I am thinking all kinds of stuff..details! B-man-are the roads still icy? We are having terrible ice problems here. I hate driving in this crap. Okay, so my Valentine's Day was a bust. DH plowed until 10pm last night and said he would make it up to me today. It really is no big deal, but it is nice to get something. I made him stuffed mushrooms since they are his favorite and he was excited to come home to that and a gift. This is our 10th anniversary year and we are thinking of going to Vegas in March. Our anniversary isn't until November, but I have no free time in my schedule then. We'll see. I am so darn frugal it is hard for me to part with my savings and go, but I know we only live once.... I am off to work out before the MD's. Have a great day girls.

WHAT? Did I hear this right??? DId I miss Steph's birthday???? OH NO! Well.... HAPPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! :happybday2: :happybday: :Banane20: :Banane20: :Banane20: :Banane20: :Banane20: :Banane20: ...the cabbageboob dancers say happy birthday too!

Hi Everyone, Happy Valentines Day..I am stopping in quick since I miss you all and am tired of studying. My clinical was cancelled tonight due to inclement weather..yay. Which gives me a little more study time. Hubby is out plowing so there is no romance going on here tonight. And it is hump day...bummer. Just kidding. I wasn;t planning on being home anyway. I know for a fact he did not get me anything because we were unusually broke this week and he never plans ahead..but I got him the movie The Departed (because I wanted it for myself-bad girl) and a card. NOthing fancy but is it bad that even though I don't give a hoot about Valentine's Day, I plan to milk this guilt I imagine he will have for not getting me anything??? I should be ashamed, but I am not. I had a piece of my kids chocolate today. It was yummy and i savored it. I don't feel bad about that. I need a small indulgence on occasion...am I alone in this thinking? I certainly don't want a box of chocolates, but maybe 2 or 3 Godiva truffles that I could enjoy wouldn't be the end of the world. yummy! Nat and BK-how are the little ones feeling? We have had so much sick traipse through this house the past few weeks, I am seriously considering buying a HAZMAT suit. yuk! I hope they are feeling better. VA-kudos on the elliptical beastmachine. I love it. I remember when I first started, I thought I was going to lose my legs after the first 10 minutes but I pushed through. Now i can do an hour no sweat (although Monday I was so congested that I was winded after a half hour and moved on to the weights). Keep going and you will build up that stamina. It is so addicting! I am off to the MD tomorrow. To fill or not to fill? On the one hand, I can eat way more than I could before. But I usually don't. I don't have much for restriction, at the same time, I am still on mushies and when I had some solid food over the weekend, I actually got full much faster and on less food. So I am wondering if I should transition to solids for a bit and see what happens. I am afraid of the restriction and the complications I may get from it. I don't want things stuck or pb's and all that. Ugh-I am so indecisive. I cannot make up my mind. I figure the doctor will lean toward me not getting the fill because I am still losing without it. If I want one, I definitely have to go in there strong in my conviction or he will talk me out of it...what to do. I'll let you all know how it goes. on another note, it is funny that since I have been doing my crunches (I am up to 150/day), I can now really feel the port when I touch over my stomach. Weird that I can feel it all of a sudden.... HAGN!

OOOhhhh Steph- I heart monkey bread. I used to make that every Christmas morning for my kids. Of course this Christmas I refused since I was on liquids (darn there goes my mom of the year award...) Sorry to hear about the passing. Also sorry to hear about the mastitis..WTF? That is strange, huh? ANd for what it's worth, I have heard of the cabbage thing in the bra for women trying to dry up their milk supply as well, so it is definitely worth a shot. I have been reading, but not replying as I would like to. I have a really bad sore throat which I am hoping is not strep. I keep looking down my throat with my penlight to make sure I don't see anything. Right now it is just red. Yuk. I rarely get anything that my kids bring home so I am a little annoyed that I got this! I have an exam next week that is huge, plus a make-up clinical at the hospital (which means 2 clinicals) and the kids will be on vacation next week. I feel badly because I am not going to be fun mom next week! The new job is good. It is strenuous but quick and good money! I am taking care of a young woman who is paralyzed. I just get her up in the morning and help get her ready for the day. I actually break a sweat! SHe is really really nice..someone I would hang out with. The job came out of the blue, but it fits in my schedule and I couldn't pass it up for now. I will at least hang onto this until I pass my boards and get a hospital job. I went for my weigh in today and I was down 5 pounds!!! Last week I was up 0.8 so I figured I would have a better loss. I never expected that much. I was ecstatic! That is 44.5! I go to the MD on Thursday to see about a fill. I am nervous and not 100% sure I want one. I am not sure he will give me one seeing as I am losing. I don't know what I should do...The scale is finally budging again. We'll see on Thursday. Anyway, I have to go get thr kids. BK-please post your photos on yahoo. I bet we will see a difference!!!! Nat-thanks for my lovely gift! I was so excited to receive a package today! Fun. And to my secret valentine, the gift is in the mail but I did not anticipate the long journey so it may be there on Thursday instead...sorry!!!!! It will get there though, so if someone is wondering it will be there soon...... Okay..gotta run. Take care.

OMG..I am so behind!!! I am sick now and so busy and have a major exam coming up and started a new job...waaaaaaa I am reading and will try to catch up more tomorrow. Please know I am thinking of you all and love you girls!!!

I agree with the previous postings and wanted to add my 2 cents. I have been increasing the weight and reps I am doing in my routine and have recently gained weight ::gasp::: it is less than a pound but I was really frustrated since I feel I am working so hard! That being said, I can feel differences in my body and my colarbones are starting to poke out, my shoulders look less round, my tummy is getting flatter, so I am trying to not put too much emphasis on what the stupid scale says! Hang in there...muscle is a metabolically active piece of your body that will burn those calories after you finish your workout. Work it until it is fatigues and then give it a rest!

I used to do the Walk Away the Punds videos when I started out. They were manageable and definitely a decent workout. I have been consistently going to the gym for months now, but some days (Like today with a sick child at home) I cannot make it. I have been doing the Biggest Loser Workout (the first one) and I do the Boot Camp workout (there are a few different workouts on the DVD). It is a killer and I just finished it and everthing in my body is burning! I also like the Firm videos that come with the steps and body bar. A bit more of an investment and challenging but killer workouts and maximum results. (that's assuming I am consistent with them). I used to love the Richard Simmons workouts. Yea, he is odd and annoying, but his workouts are fun and I like seeing "normal" people instead of those gorgeous types in fitted outfits. The only thing I don't like is anything with Denise Austin. I know she is sweet and knows her stuff, but her voice is like nails on a chalkboard for me (I know that is mean but I cannot listen to her!). Good luck and with all the videos out there, I am sure we can all find something we like.

Wow Annie..thanks for sharing that feeling of the Water pooling up. I was curious about that. I have no fill yet and I too can gulp water(I usually sip it, but I can gulp it too). I was wondering if it would feel different with a fill or if it would go right through since it is water. Interesting. I will have to wait and see for myself but it does lead me to thinking and yearning for a little restriction. My willpower is fading..hehe. Little one is home sick today so no gym for me. I did the biggest loser workout, the Boot Camp section (kills me!) and I feel good. Glad I got it accomplished despite the wrench being thrown into my routine. Have a good day all and I hope you meet your challenges!

Good Morning... I am thinking this is not going to be a great day...ugh. My little one is home sick (again...she was home last Wed as all). She was up at 2am freaking out because she thought she was going to throw up and she had spiked a temp of 102. Why doesn't she understand that Wednesdays are my busiest day of the week??? the nerve (j/k) Poor little thing though. She has always been my kid that catches everything that goes around. My older daughter and I never get sick, but the little one is another story. I knew it yesterday when I picked her up from school because she was so pale with red under her eyes...that always means she is getting something. This is her first year in school and I think she needs to try every germ on for size. bummer. So hubby has to leave work early because today is my clinical day and I need to leave for the hospital around 2:15. There goes my gym this morning too so I am doing the Biggest Loser video instead. I was looking to a good weight workout today. Okay, on a better note, the scale seems to be letting go of whatever it was holding onto. I am back down that .8 or so that I gained, so I hope we are now moving onward and downward...we'll see if it keeps up. Question...how are you all for getting your servings of fruit and veggies a day? I am definitely lacking. I find by the time I eat my protein, there is often no room for the veggies with the exception of mashed taters which I know doesn't really count. I am taking my multivitamins but I know I should be getting more produce. before surgery, I ate tons of fruits and veggies (and tons of everything else too...). I made a meatloaf last night to take to school with me and I made some mashed carrots so I know I will get something in. I am still on mushies so I am finding it hard to figure out what to eat as far as the veggies go. I need to make this a bigger priority. How are you all doing it? BK-I never made the soup with cream cheese before until last night. It was so good that way. I know it is more calories, but I eat such a small serving it doesn't make much difference. Plus, it adds a richness that was not there before and keeps me from adding shredded cheese and sour cream so it actually all evens out. Try it this way and let me know if you like it. Brandi-I too want to see some pics of your success. I bet it is a big difference. Way to go. Kirsten-1" of snow and no school? Sounds like Virginia..haha. You know it takes more than that up in your old neck of the woods. My kids got new snow pants and sleds for Christmas and are dying to use them. We have had no flippin snow. Not to mention, my husband plows and makes huge money when it snows so financially I look forward to it too. (((Steph))) I understand your fear of having your family visit, expecting those G/B results. Hang in there. Educate them. I bet they will definitely see a difference. Remind them that this is for the long term and your are working on becoming healthier, instead of having the weight come off on it's own via G/B and not really learn the correct skills to manage that for the long haul. We'll get there girl! Nat-you must be working hard today (?)..oh wait, I see that you are viewing the thread..good, I thought maybe you were really focusing on that job of yours..hehehehehe. Just kidding. How is the man/plaything? details details...