2mara

Yippee for new jeans! Great job!

You're NUTS! hehehe I can definitely see a difference. Great job! Keep up the good work!

For me, I need the daily scale to keep myself focused. Yes it's frustrating that the number doesn't move every day or that it goes up a pound or only down 1/2 a pound. But, each day I look at that number and get inspired. Either I'm down and so happy that I'm going the right direction that I want to keep it up. Or, I am flat or up a little and I make a daily decision to work harder. Think about my choices more, add more exercise, do something different. It doesn't work for everyone. But for me, the scale is my friend for the first time in probably 20 years!

Looking good! I can tell a big difference! Keep up the good work!

BEAUTIFUL PICS! BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!

You look WICKED AWESOME! Thank you so much for sharing. When I am feeling impaitent with the process, I always thing about your photos and how each month you show so much progress! Absolutely amazing!

Hello! Don't forget you will be a little sore and swollen and won't feel like you need/want a lot. At first, you will actually need to make sure that you remind yourself to drink some liquids so you don't get dehydrated. I found that variety helped me through it. Crystal Lite in all sorts of flavors. Chicken broth, Japanese miso soup broth, sugar free jello, popsicles, fudgesicles, hot & sour soup, lemonade, slushies, tortilla soup, etc. Eventually when I got to creamy soups I did Cream of Chicken, Cream of Broccili, Velvety Potato, Tomato, Protein Shakes in Chocolate and Vanilla, and Strawberry, drinkable yogurts, and yes - the occassional frosty!. You can do it... and when you feel like you are out of ideas to make it through, come back to the forum and ask for ideas! Everyone here is so helpful! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! Tanya

We're gonna party like rednecks! Yeehaw! Sprinklers and water slide for the kids. A big cookout with friends and family (I've made sure that there is grilled chicken and raw veggies for me). I plan to eat, but completely different from last year when I think I put down a rack of sauce covered ribs, a pint of potato salad, and at least 4 brownies! And the grand finale -- a ton of fireworks at my out-laws farm.

How fun! I bet you look totally awesome today! Congratulations on discovering "new" clothes in your own closet!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom.

=D> AWESOME! What an inspiration!

Thank you all for the kind words, support, and encouragement!

Hello, I thought I would share my photos -- 1 month pre-op, surgery time, and 1 month post-op. I don't have the mad photoshop skills that MamaMichelle does, so excuse the bizarre photo sizes. April 2008 are pictures taken on vacation in Beijing, China -- before I started pre-op diet -- at at my highest rate ever. The crazy blue shirt I'm wearing in the other two is actually the top to a skirt set, but I chose it for my photo shirt because it is very clingy/stretchy. And finally, I switched to the lovely grey gym shorts in my most recent pictures because the jean shorts are too big. Thanks for letting me share!

Great job, Carrie!!!! I love milestones! Finally being lighter than when I was 9 months pregnant. Finally being lighter than my wedding day. I'm still 30 pounds heavier than my best ever dieting efforts, but I know I can get there AND beyond! It does get frustrating. I've been on a plateau about a week now -- but we can hang in there! We will make little milestones and they will give us so much motivation to keep going! You are making AWESOME progress! ~Tanya

Hmmm... I read this right after a slow-and-steady 45 minutes on the treadmill. I'm going to try it starting tomorrow! An excerpt from "Get Strong to Get Lean" Burn calories, sculpt muscle, and shed fat — without even leaving your living room By Dimity McDowell, Prevention A Cardio Kick to Boost Your Metabolism Canadian researchers report that intervals of high-intensity physical activity are necessary to burn body fat. In fact, their findings suggest that spurts of intense exercise are nearly 900% more effective than the slow-and-steady approach in reducing fat. You can experience the difference yourself, using aerobic exercise equipment such as a stationary cycle, stairclimber, elliptical stepper, or treadmill. First, warm up by going at about half-speed, or 50% of your perceived maximum effort, for at least 3 minutes. After that, begin a sequence where you go close to all-out for 5 seconds, then slow to your warm-up speed for 10 seconds, then follow with another 5-second spurt near maximum. Repeat the fast-slow-fast cycle as many times as you can, up to a maximum of about 10 minutes. Once you have a sense of the time frame, you can count to yourself instead of watching a clock. Finish with a cool-down, gradually slowing your pace for several minutes or more. Do this 5 x 10 workout three times a week to start. Over time, you can add intervals until you're exercising for a total of 20 minutes, including a 5-minute warm-up and a 5-minute cool-down. With the 5 x 10s, you take your metabolism and energy to a whole new level. Don't be surprised if you feel more alert and alive after this workout.

FABULOUS DARLING!!! You look amazing!

Hey Carrie, Hang in there! Have you added exercise yet? Even just 20 or 30 minutes a day of treadmill or biking can help you balance out adding solids back into your diet. And, I have to agree with Jena, "the poopie queen." I felt so unregular on soups and the first couple of days of solids. Also, think about your monthly cycle. I've seen many people post that they were off their regular 28 days after surgery. I gain 4 to 6 lbs a few days before and drop it 4 or 5 days later... every freaking time! My Aunt Flo visited during creamy soups when I was taking in 800 calories a day or less -- and still gained 5 pounds over night. This time, I put the scale away for a few days instead of driving myself crazy. Great job on eating small portions, small bites, and chewing so well! Keep it up! ~Tanya

Carrie, Great job on sticking through the liquid diet and the weight loss! 14 pounds in a couple of weeks is incredible! It is so exciting to enter the next phase. Chewing, here we come!

This morning when I went to put on my favorite bra, it was too big!!!! It hung off my body even on the tightest hooks. I dug DEEP into the drawer to find an older bra, 2" smaller, and it is a great fit! I wore it all day and never felt like it got tight. (Don't you hate those bras that start cutting into you around 3 in the afternoon, WillT????) I guess I truely have been losing inches! I wish I had taken before measurements. I'm definitely going to do measurements now!

I'm using my-calorie-counter.com. It's a great tool to monitor your calories, nutrition, and exercise.

Looking great! I love your outfit. Look at you all sleeveless with white summer pants and pretty painted toes! Congratulations on your bandaversary and your awesome weightloss!

Wow Nicolek, you look great! I noticed we have similar stats. I'm 5'8" & will be 37 this year. I started heavier than you at 275 and, at 2 1/2 weeks post op I am down to 248.6. I set my 1st goal weight at 195 -- just a few pounds heavier than your 1/2 way picture -- because I can't remember a time in my adult life that I weighed less than that. Your pictures have really inspired me to get to my 1st goal asap! I want to look as cute as you do in those little crop jeans. Size 16 here I come! Keep posting! It's truely inspiring. ~Tanya

I highly suggest you post here after surgery! We all understand.... My boss, however, didn't quite understand why I emailed him my annual goals in random nonsense sentences full of misspellings! He told me to add grammar and spelling to my areas of improvement! HAHAHAHAHA! What on earth possessed me to submit my goals right then is beyond me! Share your loopy posts with us!!!! and... CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Welcome to Band Land!

Welcome Trudy. I'm not from Canada -- but I visited once! Beautiful! I have seen others from Canada on the forum, so I'm sure they'll chime in soon. (I've noticed that the forum is a little slower Friday night through the weekend). I'm glad you introduced yourself. Congratulations on making the decisioin and getting your July surgery date. It is scary and exciting all at the same time! This forum is great for sharing fears, concerns, joys, and successes! WELCOME!

Saturday: I'm working. Two of my neighborhoods are having big pool parties for the homeowners to attract referral buyers so I'll be shuttling between the two neighborhoods making sure everyone has enough pizza, soda, and popsicles. (I put the popsicles on the menu for me and claimed it was for the kids!) Sunday: Father's Day Brunch with my in-laws. They are in-the-know about my band, but it is an off-limits subject. We ate breakfast with them last weekend and I did fine -- I brought my own orange juice and yogurt and just sipped while everyone ate. I spent a lot of time making sure everyone else was taken care of (I'll jump up and go get the jelly for you...anyone need a drink refill, etc.). I did covet my neighbor's scrambled eggs though! As we left I told my mother-in-law that everything looked great and that I'm looking forward to having some of the eggs and fresh fruit in a couple of weeks. 'Nuff said and it went smoothly so I think it will be fine for one more weekend. I think my dad is working on Sunday, so we'll stop by his store after lunch to say Happy Father's Day. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!![/font]