mandyfsc

Well I have been MIA for several weeks. I got very discouraged. I was still feeling no restriction and I stopped losing. Last week I even gained 2 pounds! So I got my 2nd fill on Monday, 06/07. I got 2 CC's put in and FINALLY feel restriction. Of course it's too early to know if I am at my sweet spot but at least I know what restriction is supposed to feel like! At my weigh in today I was at 191. It feels great! My goal is 2 pounds per week.

Sorry for the late response. I dropped 1.2 lbs this week. I am at 196.4.

This week was frustrating for me. I only lost .4 lbs. I went from 197.8 to 197.4. But my thinking is that as long as the scale is going DOWN, I need not complain. And cross my fingers that next week will be better.

Cristal, Yup, I used to do the same thing.... scrub scrub scrub! But now it's run run run!!

So I was going to give my body a rest from running today because I ran the last 5 days in a row. BUT I had a very crappy morning and needed to burn off some anger. So I went running at lunch time. It was my best run yet. I guess anger helps.

Yah, sorry to burst your bubble but honestly the weight will come off but at a much slower pace now. After liquids I have been averaging a pound a week for 4 months straight and i am on my 4th fill with great restriction. I do weight watchers and excercise for 30 minutes a day/4-5 times a week. I can live with a pound a week (52 pounds in a year). BTW, the month of January was a complete plateau for me where I did not loose anything for 28 days straight. I was at 172 pounds in January and it turns out that was a "set-point" for my body, which was a weight that I had been at previously in my life for a long stretch of time.

"Set-point"- I've never heard of that. Wow, that makes sense though. It must have been tough to push yourself over that. Good job.

I've had one fill so far and still feel no restriction- which I hear is completely normal. However, this means I have to be even more mindful of what I eat. I keep track of all foods and exercise in www.myfitnesspal.com. It sounds like you are doing that too, so just be patient. My goal is to lose 2 pounds per week which is a healthy loss. You will never be able to keep losing the same amount you did on liquids. Those liquid diets are for a term for a reason. You are doing great! Just keep with it and stay motivated. Join a weigh in group, or an exercise group to compare with others and to keep you motivated. Remember WE are own worst enemy here. So we need to rely on each other more and more. Stay strong- you've got the will-power, now prove it!

I started Week 4 of the Couch25K today. I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to do it. But I did! I slowed my pace and just put one foot in front of the other and I made it through! It seems so much easier when I use the podcast also since he tells me when to speed up and slow down. It takes the guess work out. I will be taking a break from running for the next day or so though. My whole lower body is feeling it. I am supposed to take a break between runs but have run the last 5 days straight. Shame on me. But I am really beginning to enjoy it. I'll jump back into my circuit training for the next two days though...

I went to the gym today and ran the track. I did the Couch 25K Week 3 and was able to keep up. I think I;m ready for Week 4! I'll start it tomorrow.

Today I ran/walked 5K. I walked more than ran but am hoping to change that soon. I ran outside and it was so much better than on the treadmill.

Mandy- What is the 25couch run?

Michele- You should call OCC and ask them. I wasn't given very strict limitations on exercise.

Hey Cristal,

The Couch25K program is designed for "couch potatoes" to learn how to run a 5K in 9 weeks. Here's the running plan: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

It's been a huge challenge for me. I've been running on my treadmill and get very discouraged. I ran outside today and it felt soo much easier- but I also had my sister pushing me along which really helped too.

You should check it out. I'm on week 3. I've been on week 3 for a while now. I will move on to week 4 on Monday.

I have been walking for over 2 years now and not getting anywhere. Banded 11/23/2009 My goal is to run/walk a 1/2 marathon. I have completed over 12 half marathons and walked each one. My first 1/2 marathon took me 4 hours to complete and my last one 3.26 hours. My next marathon is April 18th and might have to walk it due to hip/leg issues but hope to completed it in 3 hours.(hope) I am seeing a physical therapist 2 days a week right now so maybe he can get me back to walk/running.

Monday - Time: 01:00:00 Yoga Total

Monday - Total Time: 00:47:44 Distance: 3.45 Miles

Tuesday - Total Time: 01:14:45 Distance: 5.00 Miles- Morning

Tuesday - Total Time: 00:50:00 Distance: 3.06 Miles - Evening

Wednesday- Total Time: 00:59:26 Distance: 3.88 Miles

Thursday - Total Time: 01:14:45 Distance: 5.00 Miles

Janice, Congrats on the marathon! I am working up to that. I went running with my sister today to give me the extra motivation and push. We ran/walked for 3 miles but I ran 1 full mile in the middle. It's the 1st time I've run a mile without stopping. Ever. I'm proud of myself. I couldn't have done it without my sister there pushing me along telling me not to stop. Today was a great workout day. I've only run on my treadmill up until today and finally understand why people say it is easier to run outside then in. Now I totally get it! I'm going to run with her again tomorrow. I really want to run a 5K by the end of May.

Mandy ... you make me feel bad saying that you "only" lost a pound this week, being that I have only lost a pound a week for the last 5 months

I lost another pound this week ... was kind of excited about it until I read your post and now the negative voices are going off in my head again

Anyway, down a total of 24 pounds thus far.

Amy, your body has reached a "set point." Do you remember another time in your life when you were at or about this weight for awhile? switching things up may help but honestly you just have to give your body time to hang out here for awhile. Your body is telling you that is is very happy and comfortable at this weight and you just got to give the body enough time to get over the glee factor I have had 2 "set points" so far. One at 172 and one at 165. I remember that time in my life at 172 very well and that "plateau" last 28 days for me.

Bogie, I am so sorry. Please don't look at it that way. I am personally struggling because I work out basically every day with my sister and she is losing 2+ pounds per week without a lap band. So I am getting discouraged myself. My goal has been to lose 2 pounds each week but I know some weeks are better than others. We both just need to hang in there. I think the mental part is 90% of it. We'll get there....

Good Morning Gang, reporting in on Fridays....down 3lbs in 2 weeks (the same 3lbs - up and down, up and down)

Any suggestions how to get over this plateau. Thanks!

Good morning, Amy! and other Friday girls!

I lost only 1 pound this week. I'm going to blame it on my TOM though... Hopefully I'll do better next week.

My suggestion to kick the plateau is to rev up your workouts and eat more. I know "eat more" sounds funny but if doing it with your workouts you can certainly kick the plateau. Or if you are working out regularly, change it up! Our bodies get used to doing the same thing over and over so when we change it our bodies start to adapt. Just a suggestion....

How did everyone else do this week???

Hey Cristal, I hope you are feeling better. I promise, the previous posts weren't a dig at anyone- just me venting to open space. But I am glad you are back. It's always encouraging to hear how the band is helping others. It is motivating.

I weigh in on Fridays. Wednesday and Thursdays are my toughest workout days because of my schedule. But my sister joked with me today and said "Today is our last chance workout before weigh-in in the morning. Make it count!" That really motivated me. So tonight I did my 30 day shred video. And it's raining here right now. So afterward I jogged over to my mailbox in the rain. It felt soooo good. I was so hot, the rain felt amazing! I will get up early tomorrow and do my couch25K run before I weigh in. I really want to lose 2 pounds per week. I think that is a safe and realistic goal. I'll post my weight tomorrow! Nighty night! I'm gonna go have my 150 calorie warm delight- I like to think I earned it!

i sure hope so. i was eating way too much bread. it really did hurt to eat it... and i wasnt really paying attention to my chewing either... yesterday i also had a piece of flan (like pudding consitency) and thought i was gonna get stuck!! but didnt.. i actually am chewing now.. my food is cold! haha.

Hi Erica! We have basically the same stats and goals! That's always fun to compare. I'm glad you are doing well on your 2nd fill. I've had one so far and can't wait for my next one. I am self pay and they are $400 each so I'm saving up now. I'm trying to be strong and go on self control right now but it gets tough. Congrats on your success and I think it's great to have mini goals like shorts! I am hoping I'll be bathing suit ready by July. not bikini ready- but bathing suit ready.

Well it looks like everyone fell off the bandwagon with this post...so I'll talk to myself...

I have been struggling with my workouts and I know this is why I am not losing as much as I would have hoped. I still have no restriction so it is imperative for me to be burning off any extra calories I am taking in. My sister has been kicking my tail in the workout department. She has steadily been losing 3-4 lbs per week but that's because she is working out 6-7 days per week and working out harder than me too! She just signed up for her 1st 5K and I am so proud of her. And it motivated me too! I am getting back on track with the Couch 2 5K. I started back on week 3 and found a podcast online that tells me when to run andn when to walk. So it takes the thinking out of it. It was fun. So I did my Jillian Michaels yesterday and ran today. I think I will just go back and forth between the two. The couch25K is supposed to be ran 3 days per week and I still want some strength training also so the 30 day shred with Jillian Michaels is perfect for that.

I am forcing myself to not let anything get in the way of my workouts from here on out!

It's that time again ladies!

I weighed 198.8 this morning.... ONEderland! FINALLY! I was so worried too.... I went to a baseball game last night and could almost taste the hot dogs and beers as they walked past me. But I planned ahead and brought a 100 calorie package of pretzels with me instead. I can't say it was the same but I will say I had no regrets after eating them like I would have after that hotdog!!

I stayed at the Marriot so I'm not positive but I imagine they are similar??

We got free room service at the Marriot. All the chicken broth and juice and popsicles a girl can eat! Ha!

We had free Wifi

The TV did have mainly Spanish channels BUT there were definitely some English speaking ones with silly American movies running.

My hotel did not have a DVD player.

I hope that helps. If no one that stayed at the Lucerna responds I'd contact the OCC directly and ske these questions as they are very good ones.

Good Luck!

Hi Cristal,

Ugh! I am STRUGGLING! I need to make my work outs a priority!

My sister and I started our weight loss journeys together on New Years. She is doing it the old fashioned way- I got the Lap Band as a tool. She does not know this. It is KILLING me because she has lost 35 lbs so far and I have lost 28 WITH A LAP BAND! And I know it is because she is working out more and harder but it is still frustrating. And it makes me doubt whether this was a good decision or not.

... I think I'm just having a bad-lap-band-day.

Thanks so much everyone. I am having PS on April 13 and I am sooo excited!!

You look incredible! What an inspiration!

What are you having done??

Congrats to you, Sabrina!

I've had one fill so far and although I've been told it was an aggressive (high) fill amount- 6 CC's, I still don't feel restriction. Thank goodness I have learned to eat healthfully and actually think back to some of the foods I've gorged on in the past and it makes me sick. I am starting to really view food differently and I think that really helps.

Anyhow, I was looking at your stats and even at your highest fill amount you were never up to 6 CC's... and that makes me wonder what's wrong with me?? Why do you have less fill and get stuck and I have more fill and feel nothing?? I know the band/fills/and restriction vary but shouldn't there be some sort of consistency?

Can anyone help me understand that?

OK, so today is Friday and I did not work out Wednesday or Thursday. Those are my two toughest days. I'm jammed packed busy from 8:30-10:30 on this days. I know I need to get up and workout BEFORE work but I am NOT a morning person. This is where I need the encouragement, ladies.

I also just read Lindsay's post about working out for an hour a day. So here's my new goal... Still do my 20 minute circuit training daily but also add walk/run for an additional 30-40 minutes 5 days per week. I'll do that this week and see if I can increase my weight loss. I've lost exactly 1.6 lbs each week for the past 2 weeks and I'd like it to be at least 2 lbs.

So we'll see....

GREAT POST! That is so important! I've been doing 30 minutes daily so it looks like I need to UP it for now... Thanks for the reality check as always, Lindsay.

201.8 down from 203.4. Lost 1.6 this week.

I guess that's a steady healthy weight loss but I still wish it was more. It's frustrating being this close to ONEderland.