Kaydotrn

Viridescence. First of all, I want to offer you a HUGE HUG!!!! I can completely relate to a lot of what you are saying. I was one a child of a thin mom who put me on diets when I was going through puberty and barely overweight. I spent my formative years feeling fat and not good enough. But I was certainly never encouraged to do any kind of activity. Nope, just diet diet diet. All that did was make me fatter and ashamed. I decided to keep my decision to myself with the exception of my husband, sister, mom (who was surprisingly supportive as I have got older) and one friend. No one else. I could not handle the people watching me, or forming opinions about how I was losing weight. The fact is, I am eating less and exercising a lot...the rest is not their business. Don't afraid to keep it to yourself. There is so much support here on this board from people who have your best interest at heart and actually know firsthand everything you are going through. Ultimately, it is your decision to tell. I just wanted you to hear from the perspective of someone who is banded and "in the closet". Best wishes!

Amen Musicalmomma! I too don't think having surgery was the easy way out. Like many others, I had been yo-yo-ing with my weight for years. I was essentially killing any chance I had at getting to a normal weight..and believe me, I TRIED! I tried everything. Since I had surgery, the weight has not flown off. With the exception of the first 20 pounds, I have had to work really hard to get every pound off. And even with the surgery, I can still consume quite a lot of calories if I am not careful and cautious about what I eat. A prime example, I went out to dinner with a friend tonight. I ordered a Margarita..yes, a splurge. I ordered a half salad and Soup. I then ate half of each item. For dessert, which I NEVER get, I decided to order one of those little shot glass Desserts, honestly thinking I was making a smart choice...minor indulgence. OMG, I got home and worked out the calories. My meal itself was around 300 calories...the drink and dessert was about 750!!!! I am shocked. See how easy it is to over do it. My error, and I won't make it again. Just a reminder how easy it would be to not lose weight. I think this surgery has just kept me from being able to pile it back on as easily as I had in the past.

Are you kidding...TOOT away! That is awesome. You should be so effing proud. I am itching to try a spin class but my gym doesn't have them. I will see if I can find one elsewhere that I can pay as you go. You know, I too love the pain. I love that when I get up from sitting, I grunt because my butt hurts so bad from all the squats I have been doing. I love that my shoulders ache from all the weight work. It is sick, but I love it. Wow Karey! I do my squats with my little 8lb weights and my butt kills. I am in awe! I did another firm video today...Cardio Party. I actually shouted at the trainers at the end and told them I hated them. Good thing they are on tv and couldn't hear me. I kept up with the cardio but I am not terribly coordinated and some of the moves were ridiculous. I know if I do it a few times I will get it down but I wanted to kill them for their enthusiasm. It was a good sweat builder though and according to the bugg I burnt a crapload of calories in the 45 minutes. Looking forward to my run tomorrow! I decided to put my scale away until Sunday. I am getting pissed because I have a 1000 cal deficit everyday for 9 days and I am still up a pound. I am frustrated and trying to convince myself that I am gaining muscle but I really don't know. I have to just keep at it and figure it will work itself out. It has to, right? Flippin scale!!!!

I follow a program where I aim for 2500 calories burned and 1500 calories eaten to give me a daily deficit of 1000 calories and hopefully a 2lb weight loss each day. I don't know if that helps. Whatever I do, I try to keep a 1000cal deficit which I do by using my bodybugg. I try to fill up on lean Protein and complex carbs (veggies/fruits). I am struggling with being really hungry later in the day and I am thinking about tweaking my intake to try to eat more earlier. I tend to save my calories for later in the day and I am afraid that is sabotaging myself. I am also wondering if I am hungrier because of my increased workouts. Maybe try a Protein shake or bar before your workout to give you the energy so you don't feel weak.

LOL Daddy..I love it! It must feel pretty cool to get an acknowledgement from that elite group! Enjoy it. I am finishing up week 3 tomorrow. I don't think I have ever done week 4, I usually have something that throws me off track by now. I am really excited and feeling great. I am looking forward to running my first 5K which is scheduled March 30th. I may be repeating this info, if so, sorry...just really excited! Sweet-wtg on the continuing running. I bought a runners handbook yesterday online..hopefully it will ship soon. I think that will motivate me to increase my endurance and speed correctly when I am done with the C25K. I will let you know how it is when I get it. Travel-I love what you said about what you are doing now being a lot more than what you were doing last year. That is so true and a great perspective. I love it! And next year we will be looking back and saying the same thing as we are running our marathons...one can dream right?

WTG Tracey and Frangipani on onederland!!! I have been hovering at 205 since Thanksgiving! It is driving me nuts. Can someone send a rescue rope and pull my over to the other side??? Admittedly I was very sporadic in my exercise over the past 5 weeks or so until the New Year, but I am busting my butt now so I hope ti see some results soon! I NEED to get over there wil you all soon!!!! Keep my seat warm.

Woo hooo..thanks for sharing and I can say I have NEVER eaten one thing on that list. I am surprised to be honest as I used to like my fast food. I can also say I have never in my life supersized anything. Just goes to show you, a little "extra" calories every day and inactivity over the course of 10 years is enough to make you morbidly obese. It doesn't take "a lot" of overeating! I am halfway through my week 3 c25k. I am a little intimidated by week 4 but looking forward to the challenge. I have my first 5K race set for March 30th which gives me enough time to get through the c25k and then work on improving my time so I can actually get the whole 5k in....I am excited, and my sister who completed c25k a few months ago has registered with me. Thanks for the motivation and support.

I am struggling with this as well. I can eat great all day and turn into a binger at night if I am not careful. I have told myself there is NO eating after 8pm period. If I get hunger pains, then that is my body diving into the fat stores for energy (according to Bob Green anyway, and if it isn't true, I am still going to try to believe it). I have been pretty successful but it has only been about 10 days.... nothing is easy, even with the band! And I must agree, junk goes down sooo easily!

Oh girl! I am so darn happy for you!!!! That is wonderful. I know what you mean about thinking the goal number is a joke. I sort of feel that way too. Heck, I am struggling to get below 200!!! Way to go though, you really deserve it. Jill, I am with you on the no loss thing. I am thrilled to hear about your inches though and regret that I have not measured consistently. I actually measured yesterday and will see what a month does. I am working out like crazy so I better start seeing results. I don't want another fill because I think I have enough restriction. Let me know how you like yours. I also wanted to comment on the bodybugg. I agree it is a great tool and it really keeps me on track as well. My only beef is that I have had a 1000 calorie deficit every day for the past 8 or so days and I am up a pound!!!! I am frustrated but have to guess that I am building a lot of muscle since I have really been cranking it on the strength training. We'll see. This is a good topic Steph. I am kind of sorting through all this too. I have had a lot of those same comments "I gained everything you have lost"..it makes me feel weird. I am very humble to most people about my loss. I just say thanks and move on. BUt sometimes I want to share my success with people like my sister and mom who have watched me struggle for years and who know how hard I am working. This weight is not melting off! I have to work for every darn pound. I called my mom to tell her about some achievement at the gym and she replied laughing with "God, we are not going to be able to stand you for long"..WTF? I don't know what that means. Am I being that obnoxious that I am annoying? I don't think so. I was also talking about some outfit I bought and my nice heels and she said "when did you become such a diva?"...Ummm, I am just happy and feeling better about myself. Is that bad? You wouldn't mind but my mom is all of a size 4/6 naturally. I have never been that and she has always referred to my sister and i as her "big daughters"..my sister is a size 10 now but maybe has been as big as a 14 on her worst day. It is frustrating. I just have to remember that this is on her, not me and deep down I know she is happy for me...maybe just irritated that I am happy??? I don't know. I feel like I could go on for days but I really have to run...thanks for letting me vent.

I don't hold onto the treadmill, but I know there was a time when I did. I find that if I feel I need to hold on, then I am going too fast and that is why I cannot balance. What is everyone walking at? I am always curious because I don't know what I should be aiming for. My walk is usually around 3.7 to 3.9 and I slow run at 4.5 (I am trying to run a 5K). I know people run way faster but I am taking it slow. At 3.7 my HR is usually around 115 and when I run it is at 145 or so. I am really not sure what the goal should be..anyone in here know?

I love all this exercise talk. So helpful! I am ordering that weight book as we speak. Sounds like good reading and the reviews on amazon.com are good. I will let you know. I will say that FIRM workout I did yesterday must have worked because I am SORE today. I did my cardio at the gym today. Did my week3 couch to 5 K run (I am fearing week 4) and then hopped on the bike and did a hill program. It was good, but the most embarassing thing happened. I was SWEATING and realized that I stunk! I always sweat, but I think I was offensive today. I ate a lot of garlic in my dinner last night and am wondering if that is what it was. I was planning on doing another 10 minutes until some guy sat on the bike next to me (you know how close gym machines are) and I was embarassed and got up, came home and showered. I wasn't dirty, so it must have been the garlic...ewwwww. Ha. I will have to take a walk later. Has anyone done a Zumba class? I am going to one on Saturday. I am not very coordinated so this should be interesting, but I will try anything. 1hr cardio today (despite the stink:omg:)

Claud-have a great trip. I bet the family will be shocked! Steph-sounds like you need a BIG raise at work! Way to go on the size 10's. That must feel wonderful. I will live vicariously through you. As of right now, size 10 is my ultimate goal. I cannot even imagine being any smaller than that. That is wonderful that you are there. Nikki-how are things in babyland? How are you feeling? I hope well. B-man-how are the workouts going? Have you tried anything new lately? I was struggling. It is so hard during the cold months to stay motivated. I finally feel like I am back in the game. Of course this little warm up we are having in the weather is a nice boost! Okay, and I have to add that I CANNOT get over the transformation on Annie. Unreal. And in such a short amount of time. Everyone is really kicking butt. I am so happy for you all.