BANDERS UNITE ! Get to know each other chatter !

[Neen]

Keep going Sarah xxx I cheat and get my shopping online so I guess they'll be near the pharmacy stuff in yours??
The purpose of what we're doing is to look at how each one of us did and then look at the week and see what was good and what can be improved, so don't worry hun x You identified needing to do more exercise (same here) and this week coming we can tweak what we're doing and see how it changes.
Perhaps tallying up your calories to see what you actually have each day accurately will help ? Sometimes it's easy to over or under-estimate what you're having and it can make a huge difference.
I am on PMT week this week as well, so I am not expecting anything much to happen which is why I am trying to be quite strict with my calories during the weekdays...the weekend treat is keeping me going.
I definately find it hard to control and judge portions properly when I don't count calories.
Whatever happens, if we keep trying and keep helping each other to keep an eye on what we're doing, there are going to be a lot more good weeks for us than bad xxxx

 

[Sarah Metcalf]

Thanks Neen, think I'll join you in counting calories xx

 

[BlueDiamond]

Morning roomies xxx

Still not 100 % but feel somewhat slightly better then yesterday, I lost another 1lb this week ( yay me) and only 21lbs too reach goal........Seems so unreal tbh, I have focused on losing weight for so bl**dy long, gawd knows wot I am gonna focus on once I reach my goal......(yikes) Thanks in advance for reading - all the best and have a lovely weekend 2 all - MeJulie xx

 

[Neen]

You are doing so brilliantly Julie, and you have done that in spite of the complications so you should feel so proud of yourself xx You and Mazza are our goal banders pretty much and definately setting a fab example.
Hope you have a nice cosy weekend and feel better very soon love x

 

[Neen]

Thanks Neen, think I'll join you in counting calories xx

Even if it's just for this week Sarah , it might give you a refresher on what portions work best and help you avoid nibbling extra little bits.
I find I nibble bits when I am making tea for the kids or packed lunches but when I am calorie counting I just have a couple bits of chewing gum whilst I am handling the food and it prevents me from absentmindedly eating the grated cheese, a slice of ham, a biscuit etc...all the little bits can add up really quickly and we forget that they matter.

 

[BlueDiamond]

You are doing so brilliantly Julie, and you have done that in spite of the complications so you should feel so proud of yourself xx You and Mazza are our goal banders pretty much and definately setting a fab example.
Hope you have a nice cosy weekend and feel better very soon love x

 

[Sarah Metcalf]

Wow Julie your doing fab, I can only dream of having that little to lose.

Neen, I must admit I've been nibbling this week, I find having an options hot choc whilst making dinner helps a lot. xx

 

[Neen]

Me today... just started period this afternoon so amazingly the slimfast stopped the munchies all pmt week!!!

Cinnamon oatso 206
Mediterranean tuna lunch 219
W watchers mince beef hotpot with cabbage & leeks 269
slimfast 260
cocoa powder 12

total 966

 

[Rache]

Just wanted to let you know, slimfast tins are £4.00 on offer in Tescos at the moment

and still full price in Asda so a good saving xx

 

[Rache]

Dreadful day today, too ashamed to put on here what I've had. I'm sure the scales will berate me for it tomorrow.

Weigh in tomorrow :S

 

[Neen]

I doubt it for one off day hun xx Just remember, we are going to keep plodding and learning and adjusting what we do until all of us find what works for each of us.
Like aeroplanes on course, we have to make little adjustments all along the way but we will get to the end x

 

[Rache]

certainly makes me wonder if I will ever be anywhere near my goal. Feels like such a long way to go.
Baby steps I'm guessing.

Thanks Nina xxx

 

[tranquil_butterfly]

Evening all. What a day. I am suffering with a tight band. I am putting it all down to the stress of my return to work. Well I do not know what to make of it food wise other than I need to find a way of getting a routine. I woke up at 5.40 am and all I could manage before I left was an Actimel, a little water to take my meds and a cup of coffee. I had a bad nights sleep and it took me so long to get going I ran out of time to do my packed lunch and could not manage any breakfast.

I got into work for 8.15 am. My boss had organised a taxi to take herself and the papers we needed for the meeting. She then ended up running late so I ended up going in the taxi which helped as I was pooped after my walk from the tram to my office. The meeting went on until gone 3 pm. I took a little bottle of water with me thinking I could sip it and keep topping up and only managed half of it. We had a 15 minute break for lunch. My boss arranged for sandwiches and then I had to whisper to her that I couldn't eat bread. She arranged for a salad from Prets for me. I couldn't see the calorific value so looked it up when I got home. it was 182. it was nice - no bread avocado and cray fish. I am not a fan of avocado but I ate it given that I had not had any breakfast. Mistake. My pouch seemed to go into a tight spasm even though I ate it slowly. I was in agony the rest of the afternoon.

After the meeting my boss and I went for coffee to hold the meeting we should have had on Monday. it ended up being cut short as she had to dash off to get her hair done. Anyway we agreed about what should happen about the 26 days annual leave from my leave year which ends on the 31 March and she came up with a reasonable suggestion which surprised me. She also told me she could tell I had lost weight and I was looking much better.

We are meeting again first thing on Monday to finalise things and then she is in a meeting all day on Tuesday and then on holiday for two weeks.

I got home at 6.45 pm because I got held up when I went back to the office. Tonight Mr TB did dinner and did steak with mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli and gravy. For the first time I thought I was going to be sick after eating. It took me over half an hour to eat the bit I had and my band just got tighter and tighter. I didn't want to say is couldn't eat it as he has been so unwell and it was a big effort for him to cook for us.

No exercise tonight as I am wiped out but I did a lot more walking than I have in the last few months and survived. My ankles are like balloons at the moment. If this keeps up I may have to go back to my doc and get put back on some meds for the water retention.

Sorry for the long post. I need to think about organising myself food wise for the mornings. Today was more stressed than usual as it was the first day back after 4 months off plus the pressure of the meeting and having to get in early.

Still I survived to tell the tale.

tranquil x

 

[dottychic]

Well done TB, you survived today so you can survive the rest of it! Stress can make the band tight from what I understand (limited knowledge lol) and it seems the bypass pouch is affected by stress too......who knew? Hope Mr TB is feeling better and Id have been the same about not wanting to say you couldnt eat the meal knowing he'd made a real effort to cook for you (HUGS) Have a relaxing weekend XX

 

[tranquil_butterfly]

Well done TB, you survived today so you can survive the rest of it! Stress can make the band tight from what I understand (limited knowledge lol) and it seems the bypass pouch is affected by stress too......who knew? Hope Mr TB is feeling better and Id have been the same about not wanting to say you couldnt eat the meal knowing he'd made a real effort to cook for you (HUGS) Have a relaxing weekend XX

Bless you Dotty , thanks. I feel a little better now. I have to relax more I think. Got some nice hypnosis downloads from Neen so going to try one of those in bed tonight to help me sleep - mind you I am so tired I think I will go off as soon as my head hits the pillow.

tranquil x

 

[Mazza]

Phew TB what a busy stressful day, no wonder your band was tight.

You got through it though and now you can have a nice relaxed weekend x x

 

[Sarah Metcalf]

Wow Tb, your boss said something nice, I'm shocked! I found going back to work hard at first, it's the trying to get a new routine started that's hard. I still struggle on Saturdays when we run the kiddies playscheme, last week I took fruit and yoghurt to make life easier. I hope you get into the swing of things soon. I also find that my band tightens when I'm stressed and I'm sure others have mentioned it happening to them.

Rache, I'm also not listing what I've eaten today, I've been to pizza hut (had to make myself stop at 2 slices as I could have eaten more) and had book club tonight which included nibbles. In a vague attempt to counter this we went for a long walk in the woods today which was nice.

Have a lovely weekend everyone, Neen I hope the scales give you a good result tomorrow, you deserve it xx

 

[tranquil_butterfly]

Phew TB what a busy stressful day, no wonder your band was tight.

You got through it though and now you can have a nice relaxed weekend x x

Thanks Mazza - I will.

Wow Tb, your boss said something nice, I'm shocked! I found going back to work hard at first, it's the trying to get a new routine started that's hard. I still struggle on Saturdays when we run the kiddies playscheme, last week I took fruit and yoghurt to make life easier. I hope you get into the swing of things soon. I also find that my band tightens when I'm stressed and I'm sure others have mentioned it happening to them.

In some ways going back before I intended and then having to do the meeting was a shock to the system, but hopefully as it will not be like this every day, things should get easier. My boss was very human today - I put it down to being demob happy before her holiday.

tranquil x

 

[Neen]

Hiya all xxx

Stress creates the cortisol hormone which is what I think causes the inflamation in the tummy area..which is why everything feels tight when we are worried/anxious/upset.
So yes , things are going to stick like crazy !
TB Glad you had a better experience with your boss hun xx
Rache and Sarah, you know what? I am having my treat days tomorrow and Sunday. It's why I have been strict all week, and thanks to writing things down this week, I have kept on track. If I don't lose weight fast enough or stop losing, I think I will go for one day off instead and do much more exercise.
The thing is, a couple days of not being a saint aren't going to ruin anything long term..my problem before now has always been that one or two days turn into 3 or 5 because I get fed up of doing the diet/plan and want results fast.
What always happens is that I regain because I don't allow myself the chance to succeed and prove I can do it.
Having the one day or weekend to enjoy a fave meal and not write everything down is really good for morale and gives me something to look forward to during the week when I am much more careful about what I have and do.
Thank you so much for this week because without you all to share this experience with, I would have thrown in the towel at day 2!!!
What helped me most this week was the nightly slimfast and chewing gum at food prep time.
Next week I want to work on much more effort with my exercise and not being tempted to go off the plan that worked with food this week.
Next weekend we are having a birthday party for my youngest on the Saturday, so I have the party and the Sunday to get the crazy food out of my system and then right back on the plan for the weekdays.
I need to learn consistency and not give up something that works well because I'm bored of it.
I would love to get under 14 stone this year as my main goal.
What about you ?
What are you hoping for this year realistically?
What do you need help with?
What did you do this week that was successful and helpful that you will take forward to the next?
xxxxxx

 

[mells]

TB Im glad you survived your first day back at work.