Steady losers ;-)

[Banannie 0]

Nat - glad to hear you had a safe trip home! I wouldn't be surprised if you're carrying a bit of Water weight since your diet was different the past week. Now that you're back on track, I bet you beat your goal!

Steph - awesome job on the skiing! Someday I'll have to try that - we don't get enough snow here in Seattle to ski from my house, but we've got mountains nearby... sounds like a great workout!

BK - I go to a coed gym and like it fine. Many of the womens only gyms aren't challenging enough for me (like Curves) - I like trying the free weights and some of the womens gyms only have the machines.

[StephC 0]

*sigh* I hate being fat.

But you are BEAUTIFUL!

hey did I tell you all the compliment I got - remember my cabbage boob episode? Went to the specialist - alls well - but the nurse was a very good friend of mine - although we hadn't seen each other in 6 months and I didn't even know she had switched jobs - anyway after chatting for a long while she said Steph you just look so happy and content right now. LOL Its so funny that they know something is different but just can't put their finger on it - I just said yeah I am, life is good. I did finally tell her I had the surgery, since it was an exam and we had to go thro the whole past surgeries and all. But I'm sure she just knew I looked better but not sure why.

[VABandster 0]

NAt....welcome home!! You and I have almost identical goals so we'll have to keep each other in check!!

I spent most of my weekend at the hospital w/my son who had foot surgery on Friday. He was in a lot of pain on Sat. and they wouldn't release him until his pain was under control by oral meds only (since that's what he's going home with). So...he finally got discharged this AM and is at his Dads house resting comfortably now. Needless to say my eating was crap (stress related), although I noticed I felt a lot more restricted than usual (again stress related I'm guessing!)....so while I didn't eat a LOT, i ate CRAP and need to get back on track today!

Can't WAIT for a good nights sleep tonight!!

Hope you all had good weekends...

STEPH...good for you for skiing!!!

[Kaydotrn 1]

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.

[Banannie 0]

WOO HOO Kay - Nice job on your exam!!! That must feel great to be over it and have done well!

And I totally can picture the visual on the elliptical cleaning - made me giggle - I hadn't thought about it that way...

And Nat, we're all curious now - let us in on the scoop!!

[beversman 0]

Yes, Ms. Nat -- we better get to hear the story!

Steph -- I sure need to get myself into gear on the exercise too. Since my elliptical had its melt down... I havent been to the gym either. (also due to the medical crap last week), but i should have been there this weekend... and I didnt go. It is sooooo all in my mind.

kaydot -- congrats on the 90%! I wouldnt feel like moving anything either. ALTHOUGH, it is soooo nice when you get everything organized and cleaned out. i just hate doing it too. :-)

bk -- i go to a co-ed gym. I get anxious in there sometimes with all of those men just pounding away on the equipment. i doubt they really give me a second thought, but I feel like they are watching my every clumsy move sometimes. some days it bothers me... some days it doesnt

of course, in order for it to bother me... i need to get my butt to the gym! ha

------------------------------

So, this last fill has me ALOT closer to my sweet spot. I actually feel the restriction a little bit again. I think I still need another small fill, but I am definitely not snacking around or looking for food at night anymore. It has really helped alot.

Definitely dont wait. If you need a fill, call and get a fill! you shouldnt be feeling hungry. If you do, you need just a touch more. I am hoping to get back on track now.

[Maurdan 2]

I have gone to a co-ed gym for years and I'm guessing I'm the fattest chick here. Funny enough, it has NEVER bothered me. My mom sometimes goes with me (she's a lot smaller than me, size 10) and feels so self-conscious. I just never have. I guess I'm so used to being the biggest anywhere I just don't let it get to me. I actually enjoy watching the men.

As for fills, I know I had 2.5cc but I'm not sure I have restriction. Part of me wonders if its me not working with the band, or if I truly need a fill. I was able to eat a taco salad today!!! That can't be right. But then, it was very soft and I remember a post saying we should stick to chicken breast consitency to feel restriction.

I think I am going to take the next three weeks to really do what I'm supposed to before I get another fill. If I do and don't lose, I'll schedule a fill during my Spring Break vacation.

[StephC 0]

Va - I hope ds is ok. The first few days are always the worst. And believe me when I say I understand stress eating!

Kay - geesh what a man! I'm married to my father. He does the outside work I do the inside - the day he cleans out the closet is the day I'm 6 feet under! I hope my son makes a better husband then his dad -in that area - at least he cooks. I had to laugh at the elliptical cleaning - I don't think guys ever get past the 8th grade sexual mentality.

Bman - I think you are going thro what I was in - its so hard to get back in the groove when you havent' done it for a while. Like me skiing! But I really enjoyed it when I did it. I feel so good when I work out - even just 30 minutes.

Maurdan - it sounds like you need a fill - thats how I was feeling before I got my 2nd. Now I'm wondering if its enough. On the one hand I got that stuck feeling - again this morning on shredded wheat and had to stop - then for lunch I went to chinese - I made a plate of food and picked out the best - I left at least half a plate - so all of that makes me think I'm fine with this fill but then I get home and within 3 hours of lunch I'm looking for something to snack on. Hmmmm.... Soooooo is it me and my bad habits or is it that I need another fill? Its been less then a week since I got this fill. I guess I need to wait and see.

talk to you all tomorrow!

[bkwalling 0]

va- hope the son is better

kay- you are funny about cleaning the machines love it

steph glad to hear you are skiing again

nat- I too am jealous of you I wanna go to florida so bad

brandi- I am not sure what about the co ed I am begining not to like I am not umcomfrontable around the men but what gets me the most is it being so packed full of men

this is the only nice co ed gym in town so it is packed

I am not sure I am not sure if curves would work for me

OKAY ALL LADIES I AM PISSED

MY DOC VISIT TODAY DID NOT GO AS PLANNED

LADIES I NEED HELP I AM NOT LOSING WEIGHT

I BARELY EAT MUCH AT ALL ABOUT 1/3 OF WHAT THE OLD KHRISTINA WOULD HAVE ATE

MY DOC WOULD NOT DO A FILL TODAY BECAUSE OF ME PBING A FEW TIMES

I THINK I NEED ONE HE DON'T SO HE IS GOING TO MAKE ME WAIT ANOTHER MONTH

I HAVE ONLY LOST ONE LB IN ONE MONTH

WHEN I WAS ON MY LOW CARB PRE-OP DIET I LOST ALMOST 20 LBS IN ABOUT 2 MONTHS

I FEEL LIKE I AM NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY BY THEM

I TRIED TO EXPLAIN HOW ALL OF YALL WAS MOSTLY ON YOUR 2ND OR 3RD FILL HE WAS LIKE EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT

I AM GOING TO WRITE WHAT I EAT IN A DAY AND I KNOW YALL WILL SAY NO SNACKING WHEN I WRITE THIS BUT TO BE HONEST IF I DON'T snack A LITTLE I AM STARVED TO DEATH

OH AND THIS TOO WHEN I EAT CERTAIN FOODS bread HAMBURGER meat I CAN ONLY EAT A COUPLE OF BITES BUT WHEN I EAT A salad OR COTTAGE cheese OR chicken OR TURKEY I CAN EAT TWO CUPS

HERE IS A NORMAL DAY PLEASE MY LOVELY LAPBAND LADIES HELP ME ALSO DID I METION MY DOC ANSWERED THE CELL PHONE WITH ME IN THE ROOM WITH HIM RUDE

Breakfast

Protein BAR OR Cereal DEPENDS ON MOOD

SNACK

ABOUT 10 WHEAT THINS

lunch

2 CUPS OF salad WITH meat

SNACK

COTTAGE cheese A FEW WHEAT THINS

SUPPER

A HALF A SANDWICH AND COTTAGE CZ OR CHIC STIRFRY ABOUT 1 CUP AND A HALF

THIS IS WHAT I EAT MOST OFTEN PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO CHANGE AND LOSE THIS WEIGHT

ALSO I WORKOUT ABOUT 3 TIMES A WK

[gonnabeskinny 0]

hey threw upon both my fills and he still did it, the first ine was too much butthe second one was in between 1,75 as opposed to 1.9

whats worng with your diet imho.

i stay n two three shakes a day, and a few teaspoons of anything i want in the evening lastnight i had lean low cal linguini, two or three teaspoon and a 6o0 calorie Jello, .

i beat the 152.4 this morning and finally saw in glowing lovely numbers 150.6 onmy scale, i started at 182,dec 21.

theres ahormone calle cytomel with helps with thyroid its only tempirary your not suppose dto tak eit for more than 6 weeks.,

i ythink you need to demand a fill a sthe patient and get restricted enough that your basically on shakes,

with my fill i could not imagine whatsoever eating what you ear a day, you wont be hunrgy if you getthat fill so id fight for it.

callhim and fight for it,

yeah deveryones different but noone doesnt get fills

i get fills when iask and want.

maybe my doctor is soeciual i dontknow, he actually is opretty great, but in any case, id fight fo rit.

gonnabe

[beversman 0]

bk -- hey hon!! I think you just need to cut the carbs back. Like you said you lost well when you cut those out. I only eat about 40 carbs a day... even though I am eating food.

Look at it this way:

(for Snacks i will guess low and say 4 carbs... assuming your eating a low carb snack)

• Protein bar or Cereal - 10 -15 carbs
  
• Snack 4 carbs
  
• Wheat thins 8-10 probably have 20-25 carbs
  
• salad and meat -- depending on the veggies (tomatos and peppers can have quite a few carbs for veggies... the dressing will have from 5 - 8 (or WAY more in a TBSP) You could be anwhere from 15 - 25, maybe even more if the dressing is high in carbs.
  
• Snack 4 carbs
  
• Cottage cheese 6-8 carbs
  
• Wheat Thins 10 -20 carbs
  
• Sandwhich - 18 carbs for only one slice of bread if it is white
  
• cottage cheese 6-8 carbs

That's 95 (low side) to 135 carbs (high side) a day.

too high!

My doctor says no more than 60 -80 a day. 60-80 is considered high.

While you are still NOT eating that much....

You are consuming enough carbs that your body will be burning those all day FIRST instead of burning off the fat that you already are holding on your body.

Rule is:

Exercise burns CARBS that you consume FIRST. The first 15 mintues of your workout will just be burning what carbs you've consumed that day.

Those carbs are the easiest for your body to access. The fastest energy source.

So your body burns THOSE first.

Then, once your body runs out of the "easy burning carbs" it turns to your

body fat

which is not as easy to break down, but will make the same kind of energy.

So, (as someone who also can NOT eat many carbs) I would cut back to 50-60 carbs a day.

Eat more meat and try low carb wraps instead of bread. I never eat wheat thins or chips becuase only 8 or 10 will have as many carbs as a whole sandwhich. They add up fast!

Also watch your dressing (for salad) some of those Low Fat ones will replace the fat with sugar to compensate on taste. So, if it is LOW FAT... there is probably more sugar. Try slightly higher fat content and cut out the carbs.

Don't get me wrong. You are NOT eating alot. Compared to regular people you are eating lower carbs... BUT The amount you are eating in comparison to the low calorie count will stall your weight becuase you are supplying enough carbs to keep your exercise from targeting the fat.

Hope this helps. It's how ive been approaching it. I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and it makes me insulin resistant. Which means carbs dont digest. So, i steer clear of them all the time.

[StephC 0]

Bk - I don't watch my carbs but I count calories when I'm in a slump. I've never been able to keep my carbs that low - Bman tell us what you eat in a typical day - I really need to figure out how you get them so low. www.Fitday.com will help you track everything, if I track for a couple days it usually helps me to get a grip. My problem is if I have bad foods in the the house I eat them. I have no self control. I made a black bean and corn salsa last night - totally healthy, fresh, no sugars - but then I ate it with tortillas - which blows it. I have the baked chips but instead I ate the fat ones. My dd who has been really good about helping me make good food choices bought doughnuts - I just ate 1/2 of one - and its not even 9:00 yet. I wish it would have gotten stuck.

[Banannie 0]

Little happy dance for me - I hit the big 5-0! I'm down 50 lbs now!!!

Khristina - track and actually measure everything you put in your mouth for a few days - it'll be eye opening. Your portion sizes are likely too big, which is not surprising since your doc isn't giving you fills!! Cut out all processed carbs - focus on Protein, then produce. 3 oz of "real" Protein rather than cottage cheese, which runs through your band and won't fill you up. Then 1/2 cup of produce - veggies the priority over fruit.

Stay on solid foods, and cut it into really small pieces the size of your pinkie nail, eat slowly and chew, chew, chew a lot - this will not only help you stay full longer with the solid foods, but it'll help you practice and not PB - you've got a lot on your plate you know so between the stress and not eating slow enough/chewing enough, that's probably what's causing the PB-ing!

Good luck girl! You can do it!

[jillrn 0]

I too try to keep my carbs on the lower side, I am usually around 75 but I think that is still too much. I would love to get around 40 too. I am also worried about Calcium and I do take supplements but feel bad if I dont drink an 8 oz glass of milk every day. I also try to keep my Fiber up and bad carbs down. Milk is probably the worst carb I eat. But I am losing weight very very slowly. I did drop down 3 more pounds this week and I exercise like crazy-- honestly sometimes I regret the band and wish I opted for bypass b/c of my severe insulin resistance and it being so difficult to lose weight. I only take in 600-800 cal/ day. Then I think about all the complications of the bypass and the fact I dont have a tool if I start to regain it back in a few years and with the band I do have a tool. So it is much much harder work with the band and I feel like I do alot of it on my own. Most of the time I am happy but when I see my bypass friends-- wow they drop the weight with pretty much no effort on their own part including they NOT exercising. ( i do like to exercise though so I would be doing it either way) I am so glad our group is into the exercise. I also would be interested in hearing the daily menu's of you all losing well! Jill

[gonnabeskinny 0]

i simply dont keep food of hg calorie or jjunk in the home- that way ots impossible to eat them, i have a daughter and a staff buthe stafffood is theor own problem i get up like ive done for forty years in themiddle o fthenight and openthe fridge like ive fodne at 4am for 35 years and see nithingmuch- a starwberry- a peach- yogurt-= Jello 60 caloire pudding- diet coke wich i cant drink becaius ei fthe carbonation ivebeen told is bead for the band, im so restricted just a t 1.75 taht ill throw up if i have ahskae at nght- gross regurtationtoo i have to sellp woth atowel not very sexy, for these regirtiations, b ut idonthave sepa or sepa obstriuction and the scale just now said 150.8 its 630 am so if i sleep til 10 willit say 152.4 that dammed 152,4 its beed for two eeeks now or have o finally brokjen themold? bat the palteau. i realsie many of you have fam,ilies but and not to be judgemen tal but the only sinful thing inour house is kid Cereal, froot loops and honey crackle things i donte eat woch my daiughte r does like, if you have lots of ids and a husband things i dont have, i can udnerstand some junk food biut why nothave your family help you and wehy contribute to the great american obesituy probelm? why not takeyour family with you onthis journey? im respondong to the person who eats to omuch junk food, why have it in the house> who is it good for> your husband>>? your children? ice cream on a sunday, mayeb a pizza every two eeks, but to wat the way we eat in americanis just ignorant yall,theres these soy ice cream snadwic hes called cuties they are 100 calories each- if i have a vice its naked anti oxident juices from whole foods- andc ifyour nbear a whole foods seriously recomend shopiing there, make a bi g deliciou sfruit plate for snacking peaches tengerines grennand red grapes the bog ones- japanese pear apples, tangelo slices blood orange sloces,and ifyou must dairy whip with no caRBS, dont dcikntrinuet to chldrens sugar early patterns and obseity infuirture, tellthem ther whole family is going to focus onehealth, and mommys health is the mist impirtant thing rightnow and hibby and kids nee dto respectthat

evn those juce boxes are evil, theyre pure sugar, theyre like sittinga kid infront of a tvfor a baysitter- im no saint ivehad carbs in thehouse but i alswya sakse dmy housejkeeper and daughetr to hide them bread and pastas in the secret "cardrawer: we dont have sandwiches inthis house- althoughw e have string chese and cold cuts organic ones, for if someone needs some meet and c hedese with thick butter lettuce and lo fat mayonanise wich i couldnt live without a little i am americanised after all- we dontdo mayonaise in britian so much, and put that one the little lettiuc sandwiches, no bread no bread no bread, thats my motto.

and ive gon e from 182 to 150,8 sinc ecdec 21, my size 4 leathe rpants fit aND ARE LOOSE.

i do light yoga 5 times a week and thats about it some tradmillnad dogwalks but if i wanna really go there iln gonnaneed to add cardio but we are the most obese country in the world, we are force fed pardon my french utter deep friend sh*t fromc onception, i se ethese food ads and its a joke what theyre trying tod o to us- hearta ttacks and early deaths,

theresz a wonderful food called mochi its macrobitoic and also is an japanse ice cream- but get some slabs of mochi and some ricce Syrup and make them just liek pancakes, three or five puevcs delicious carb high bit very good for you and fulof anti oxident, flax sedd oila nd kyo green is inportanttoo and we all of us have s ome sort of wors and parasites try paracleanse fo r ten days- an dthen do it agin to keill the eggs ten days later,

imis sthe eigyties os back yto x files.

i knbow alopt oabout food ive done raw ive done macro Atkins south beach etc

theres a low low no carb desert on pahse one on south beach its risotto cheese with orange and lime andlemon in it i cants ay its haagen daaz bit iuts oretty dammed good at 4am, and is a desert liek thing.

yummy.

take it where youc an get it!

love

gonnabe almost am.!

at 510 150 is good itsnot what my goal os but i look greatto most ecveryone butthe directros ( IM ABACTRESS) ARE GONNA WANNA SEE 15-20 LBS LESS BECAUS ETHATSEHOW SICK THIS COMMUNITY IS, BUT LOOK AT BVLANCHETT AT KIDMAN, I SUSPECT ZELLWEGER HJA STHE BAND IVE HEARD IT FROM A VERY RELAIBLE SOURCE AND SHEHAS TO DI NO MOPR EBRIDGET JONES, I KNO WTHE DR WHO DID HER, LIE I SAI DWHN DINING WITHE HR SHE ORDERED MUSHIES AND A SOY shake SO I NOW KNWO WHAT THAT SUYMOBOLISES)

in Iowa id be fine and om not dysmprphic om a realist- youwanna work at my age and genre you gotta bve the skiniiest in drama, i dont need jessica albas bod becaus eim a dramatic actress but we must be thin thin thin and its so sick. but its time i got of myass and got into it, if i was inrock n roll id be skinny- but film adds 10? no try 25.

thats my 6 am advice, youshouldt have ireos inyour house no thta im finger awgging bit to whom does that benefit> if your goiubgto ask the kid sto make a secret carb draWRER they like it cos iut s a game fo rthem, and you cant fnd the carbs.

hoe that helps some

gonnebe