bogiesmom

Forgot to give a shout out to Amy for waiting out that plateau like a champ!!! I too know what it feels like for the body celebrating a set-point for one whole month!! Now that the party is over you can get back down to business! You rock girl!

Last week I was 160.2 and this week I am 158.5 for a loss of 1.7 pounds this week!

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Friday, April 23, 2010 Morning 1 tall Hot Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 2 Tbsp nondairy liquid creamer 1 1 Tbsp sugar 1 1 1/3 packet(s) Instant Oatmeal Peaches & Cream 3 Subtotal 5 Midday 2 serving(s) Kirkland Normandy Vegetable Blend 0.5 1 1/2 serving(s) Kirkland Pacifc Wild Mahi Mahi 3 Subtotal 3.5 Evening No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Anytime No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Food POINTS values total used 8.5 Food POINTS values remaining 12.5 Activity 30 min elliptical trainer, moderate intensity 2 Activity POINTS values earned 2

WW, WW, WW, WW!!!! I have had 4 fills and STILL do WW! I am strictly and On-Line member and the cost is not $17/mo, it is $12.95. My suggestion to you if you do not like counting is a "points bracelet" (you can find them on e-bay or make your own). It is a beaded elastic bracelet that has a removable charm on a lobster claw. Every bead counts as 1 point. If you are allowed 24 points your bracelet should have 24 beads (with a different color/size stop/start bead). Every time you eat a point you move the charm over 1 bead. I made my own bracelets with beads, charms, lobster claws and elastic string I got from Michael's. If you do not want to do the on-line thing then you can go at it alone with the points bracelet. Post Script: Some people need more structure and some people need less. I need more and that is why I chose WW. Like WW, the band is merely a life long tool. My thought was that the band + WW = the best of both worlds for a lifestyle change that I could live for the rest of my life.

Well it does not sound like you have a choice, but I stayed at the Mariott and wish I had stayed at Lucerna. Marriott was too cookie cutter with no character and the beds were hard. Another girl stayed at Lucerna and posted pictures and it looked 100 times better with more of a posh, upscale atmosphere. Needless to say, if I go back, I will not be staying at the Marriott.

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Thursday, April 22, 2010 Morning 2 packet(s) Instant Oatmeal Peaches & Cream 4.5 1 short Hot Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 2 Tbsp nondairy liquid creamer 1 Subtotal 6.5 Midday 1 1/2 cup(s) canned turkey chili with beans 6 Subtotal 6 Evening No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Anytime No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Food POINTS values total used 12.5 Food POINTS values remaining 8.5

"Hungry Girl, How will I ever know how many calories I need to eat in order to lose weight? I am active and work out, but I guess I'm STILL taking in too much... Would LOVE to know that answer. Help! Calorie Mallory Dear Calorie Mallory, I am asked this question A LOT! I'm not a nutrition expert, but I do know the basics and have some GREAT tips. In order to lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you burn. There are online calculators that approximate the number of calories you need per day based on stuff like age, gender, activity level, etc. Here's a link to a good one; that should be super helpful. But for truly accurate info, you need to know roughly how many calories you are burning. How do you figure that out? Get one of those electronic devices that tracks your individual calorie burn, like the Bodybugg or the Fitbit. (They aren't cheap, but buying one can be a great investment, especially if you are having trouble losing weight or have hit a plateau.) Then you can try to plan your eating accordingly. For every 3,500 calories you expend beyond what you consume, you lose a pound. This can be done through a combo of reducing your caloric intake and increasing physical activity. So if you take in 500 fewer calories than you burn every day for a full week, you should lose about one pound. If you're trying to lose weight, one to two pounds a week is the amount that health professionals recommend. As always, consult a doctor or other health professional before starting any new diet or exercise plan. Okay, now I just have one question for you... Is your name really Mallory? "

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Wednesday, April 21, 2010 Morning 1 packet(s) Instant Oatmeal Peaches & Cream 2 1 serving(s) Thomas' Bagel Thins 1 1 grande Hot Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 2 Tbsp nondairy liquid creamer 1 2 Tbsp whipped cream cheese 2 Subtotal 7 Midday 1/3 cup(s) store-bought tuna salad 3.5 1 item(s) Cracker Barrel 2% milk reduced fat extra sharp cheddar cheese sticks 2 1 serving(s) Popchips 100 calorie pack 2 Subtotal 7.5 Evening 1 1/2 serving(s) Kirkland Pacifc Wild Mahi Mahi 3 2 1/3 serving(s) Kirkland Normandy Vegetable Blend 1 Subtotal 4 Anytime 6 oz Light Banana Cream Pie Yogurt 2 Subtotal 2 Food POINTS values total used 20.5 Food POINTS values remaining 0.5

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Tuesday, April 20, 2010 Morning 1 tall Hot Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 2 Tbsp nondairy liquid creamer 1 1 packet(s) Instant Oatmeal Maple Brown Sugar 3 1 serving(s) Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filed Pretzel Pieces 3 Subtotal 8 Midday 1/3 serving(s) Costco Chicken Patties 1.5 1/2 wedge(s) Light Creamy Swiss Original Flavor .5 1/2 serving(s) Oroweat 100% Whole Wheat Light Bread .5 1/2 cup(s) Soup-Light Light Chicken & Dumplings .5 Subtotal 3 Evening No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Anytime No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Food POINTS values total used 11 Food POINTS values remaining 10

I am glad to hear you are a coffee addict as this will help you loose sooo much weight during the liquid phase. Coffee is okay to drink and you will be your BFF for 3 weeks. I had a starting BMI of 33. You have to pay 100.00 for the fills at OCC. The going cash rate in Los Angeles for fills is 350.00 w/o fluoroscopy. I choose to take the train from Los Angeles to OCC for my fills and save about $175.00 per fill.

Hi Heidi, Technically speaking you have to wait 6 weeks before your first fill and 4 weeks inbetween fills. Are they strict on that policy? In my opinion, no, thank God. I got my first fill at 4 weeks post op and every other fill (3 after that) at exactly 4 week intervals. Honstly, If I lived in SD like you I would have been back at the OCC every 2 weeks for another fill instead of waiting 4. They would like you to wait 4 weeks b/c it could take that long for a fill to settle in.

No restriction after first fill. Some restriction after second fill. However, it depends on where you plan on getting your fills and what their policy is about how much you are allowed to get and how often.

I use 2 Equals in the morning for coffee at work, but my big artifical sweetener thing is from Crystal Light On-The-Go!! I HATE plain water and I use at 3 to 4 Crystal Light packages per day!!! Thank goodness for the good news

WW POINTS® Tracker entries Monday, April 19, 2010 Morning 1 tall Hot Beverages Brewed Coffee 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 2 fl oz Coffee Extras Half & Half Creamer 2 1 serving(s) Trader Joe's Cinnamon Swirl Bread 4 Subtotal 7 Midday 2/3 breast(s) cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast 4 2 serving(s) Kirkland Normandy Vegetable Blend 0.5 1 Tbsp thai curry paste 1 Subtotal 5.5 Evening No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Anytime No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Food POINTS values total used 12.5 Food POINTS values remaining 8.5

On to the sweet news... A study recently published in the journal Appetite indicates that low-cal sweeteners don't increase our hunger levels or cause us to eat more, contrary to past reports. Subjects were given either real sugar, natural sugar substitutes, or artificial sugar swaps. The subjects who consumed low-calorie sugar substitutes -- natural or not -- reported hunger levels similar to those of the subjects who consumed real sugar... yet the former took in fewer calories. WOOHOO! We may be living, breathing (and eating!) proof of this finding here at HG -- we're HUNGRY with or without our Splenda!

POINTS® Tracker entries Friday, April 16, 2010 Morning 1 serving(s) Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filed Pretzel Pieces 3 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 2 Tbsp fat-free liquid flavored creamer 1 1 Tbsp sugar 1 Subtotal 5 Midday 1/4 serving(s) CPK Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad 3 Subtotal 3 Evening No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Anytime No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Food POINTS values total used 8 Food POINTS values remaining 14

Last week I was 161.6 and this week I am 160.2 ... A loss of 1.4 pounds

Okay, not sure if, how and when since I am still thinking about it but I thought I would ask before I just do it.