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The Last NSV?

I've just returned from my monthly visit with Dr. Baptista, whom I still adore. However, I finally realized I don't care what my weight is anymore. I'm losing weight, though it comes off in about 5 lb increments.   I'm wearing size 18, down from size 26, jeans. I'm wearing a 38B bra. I mowed our 3/4 acre lawn a couple weeks ago. I've not gone to the beach yet, but that's in my future when warm weather returns.   The biggest change is in my head. I'm no longer obsessed with food, or my diet, other than watching what I eat so I don't throw up and waste food. It's just fuel so I can get back to the business of living.   I never thought I'd say that. This year, I don't care if there's candy in the stores. The thought of eating the whole bag like I did on a previous Halloween isn't there. I don't want it.   It's the non-food stuff I care about now. Gee, the grandchildren are going to need new warm pajamas. I'd better go make them some. Let's carve the polyurethane foam pumpkins and string some spooky orange lights! Gee, my DH is so tired on weekends. I'd better go mow the yard and mulch that flowerbed. We're going dancing on Thursday night? Super! Where are my shoes?   Food? Uh, no thanks. Not hungry. No really, no thanks. Want to go for a Ghost Walk?
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A Sigh of Relief

This morning, DH drove off to his new job. It's been a long, horrible six months of unemployment. We haven't lost the house yet, and if the promises are even close to accurate, we won't.   Ironically, we don't want to celebrate. While not trying to sound pessimistic, this is still technically a temporary job. DH must prove himself. I know he can do the job, and he knows what's at stake.   Meanwhile, I have a novel to finish and a guild meeting to attend. Now to find some clothes that don't fall off my body! LOL!
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Scared of the Holidays

Oh, dear. It's my kind of nightmare. If worrying about overeating and PBing at family gatherings wasn't bad enough...   I just received an invitation to a (gulp) formal New Year's party. Yeah, the kind where the women put up their hair and wear fancy gowns. The kind that sends a clothes horse like me running to the closet to see if anything she has is "good enough."   My one fancy gown literally fell off me when I tried it on. Yes, I really mean that. I tried to button the neck thingy, lost hold, and the whole dress dropped to pool around my ankles. Darn it, I only wore that stupid thing once. (sigh) Okay, so it was a size 26 or so. :eek:   The host of the party knows I've lost a lot of weight, and he sent a note telling me that while the "formal" was important, he told me to do my best but don't fret. Such a sweetheart! :wub:   Then I went to my very favorite silky pantsuit. (Wince) Same thing with the silky pantsuit, only the pants ended up around my ankles and the top, well, let's just say Santa's bag would fit better. Oh, dear. :confused:   Um...Anyone know a used formalwear shop?
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Mushie- Chicken Edamame Chowder

BG http://www.bhg.com/recipe/soups/chicken-edamame-chowder/   Lena's notes: This recipe does not state clearly that the edamame beans are just the beans, not the pods. Be careful about this. The pods are not edible. Try to find the already shelled beans if you can. If you can't, cook according to package directions and shell them yourself before adding to the chowder.   Personally, I love edamame! It's become my new "thinking food" to snack on when I'm working here at my desk. I steam up the pods and bring the bowl right in. The pods force me not to gobble indiscriminately and the whole bowlful of used pods can go right into my compost bin out back. A little kosher salt and/or seasonings, and I'm good to go!
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Link to Diet Detective-- Calorie Rip-Offs

Just looking at the rip-offs on the Starbuck's list makes me cringe. Those were of course my favorites. As the Diet Detective rightly points out, those weren't even meals.   http://www.dietdetective.com/content/view/2108/156/
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The Sweet Spot of Success

While my personal life is still a bit of a mess with DH still out of work, I finally stopped stress eating. My daughter has provided all the buddy system I needed, and I've begun to drop weight again.   It's been funny. The jeans I loved and carefully altered to fit me at my top weight     dropped off my butt a month ago. LOL! They now reside on my sewing table, sans the added material, waiting for tailoring to my new size. As of this morning, I weight 228 lbs, a size I've not seen in over ten years. I've lost almost 60 lbs in six months!   Despite minor health issues left over from carrying around all that bulk for so many years, I'm fit as a fiddle. I don't think about walking around a grocery store whereas once it was an onerous and painful journey just to buy groceries.   Do I have skin batwings on my arms and resemble a Shar Pei puppy? You betcha!     I'll have to get pictures of my garden, once the heat advisory here in Florida breaks. For now, it's Father's Day. We're having Jambalaya, and I have no worries. (No, I won't eat the rice! LOL!) Yes, after I've checked out this new recipe and made bandster adjustments, I'll post it.   Lena
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Never Bored Solutions and Great Recipes

I'm now eating solids again, and boy-oh-boy, the band does help, even when it's not filled. If I eat more than about 2-3 oz of meat or eat too quickly, I *will* be sick. Guaranteed. And darned uncomfortable until I do yark it up, let me tell you! I finally found the techniques that works for me: 1. Measure! You can't keep an accurate record without correct measures, much less be sure you don't overfill. By simple averages it became very clear 2 ounces is my usual limit. 2. Put down the fork between bites. Example: Cut up the deviled egg. I snarfed one down in three bites and yarked it up. Cutting one into quarters and eating them slowly ensured they stayed down. My mini-food processor helps, but sometimes I can just cut up my food very small. Putting down the fork between bites works best, even if my food sometimes gets cold before I'm done. I know where the microwave is. 3. Eat a la russe (one small course at a time). By eating one tiny course at a time, you don't get the guiltiness about not "cleaning your plate." Because my doc insists on low carb, I eat the meat first. Then I go back for the veggies, if there's room. It can take me as long as it takes the guys to eat 2-3 big helpings! I may switch this, though. Sorry doc, but I think I need the fiber from the veggies. What amazes me is the pitiful cries of boredom I’m hearing from my fellow bandsters. I’m going nuts because I have too many choices of food to cook and eat! And that’s if I don’t want to “play with my food” and create my own recipes. Sure, I can only eat 2 oz at a time, but most of the time it keeps for another meal later. The guys are pigging out on anything I cook and even my DH, "Mr. Meat and Potatoes" is loving my new recipes. (Not to mention my figure.) I’ve been posting many recipes at my regular blog, http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com but maybe my editor at Aspen Mountain had a good point. Maybe I should write a LapBand Cookbook. Hmm.
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The Sauce that Makes it All Slide Down-- Part Two

Okay, the previously posted recipe was only part of the blog, but once I'd added it, the darn thing wouldn't let me type my comments below.   I'm big on sauces because I need them to swallow many meats. Even the softest and smallest can cause me a bit of distress, so a sauce smooths the way and keeps me from insulting the host or embarrassing myself. (Nothing like throwing up your own cooking to impress the guests, right?)   The White Sauce and its variations are a large part of my secret recipes, but there are tricks.   1. Use Wondra Flour when you can get it. This flour is ground extra fine and is made for use in sauces and gravies. Yes, you can use regular AP flour, but you're risking lumps. Do yourself a favor and sift the AP flour first.   2. Use a whisk to stir the flour and butter together, then slowwwwly whisk in the milk and other ingredients.   3. Don't turn your back on this recipe, not for a second. Line up your ingredients and measure them out before you start melting that butter so you can grab and dump with one hand while whisking with the other.   4. Note that I added the calories and carbs to the side and underlined what dish goes with what sauce.   5. Frankly, the cheese sauce goes in any dish where you might use cheese, and the cheese can be varied out for different flavors. Shredded Cheddar is the most common, but shredded swiss is marvelous over Spam and frozen mixed veggies for a fast meal on the cheap.   6. Use Creole Seasoning (like Tony Chachere's) in place of the chili powder in the Mexicali Sauce for a nice Cajun flavor. Add bell peppers, onions, and celery to the beef, pork, chicken, and/or shrimp, and you have a meal for no trouble!   Play with your sauce once you're comfy. You'll love how you can make anything tasty! My fussy "I hate broccoli" DH swears I could put these sauces over a brick and he'd eat it.
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If it isn't Scottish, It's Crrr*p!

I'm off to another chance to show off today! I'm a member of Clan Forrester, and today is the local Scottish Festival and Games!   For the past few weeks, my roomie Dante and I have been working on my costume, since my old ones don't fit or don't match the local climate.   Here's a picture. Hope I made the image small enough.
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Pinwheel Appetizers

I've skipped the wild rice and substituted Cauli-rice with no loss in flavor, or done without it entirely. I've also changed out the corned beef for other sliced deli meats to create different flavors. With these little guys in the fridge, safely stowed in a storage container, I have no fear of the mid-afternoon or late night snack attack.
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Avoiding Mindless Eating

We all do it. However, for a bandster, the results can be very uncomfortable.   The reason it can be difficult to eat healthily is that "hidden persuaders" can lead you into bad eating habits, says new research. Try these tips to avoid mindless eating: Be aware of the size and shape of containers. It's the amount of food that counts, not what it looks like.
Use smaller plates and bowls. Empty plates and bowls, even those of a smaller size, cue some people to stop eating.
Read nutrition labels, paying attention to the serving size listed. Consider the facts; don't guess at how many calories you're eating.
Look past the packaging. The wording on a food's package or the language on a menu can influence you to actually like a food better, increasing your risk of overeating.
Keep visual reminders of how much you're eating. Keep wrappers, empty containers, bones, and other reminders of how much you've eaten nearby.
Think about eating a meal that's healthier overall. Don't just focus on separate parts of the meal.
Control your impulse purchases. Don't let signs encourage you to buy more than you need.
For us, it's more than just gained pounds. My DH hates sitting at the table to eat meals. Worse, he pouts and grumbles when I sit at the table, even though we have a relatively open concept home where we are still technically in the same room.   I've been reading the labels as far as serving sizes, and actually measuring out the portions of the snacks. Y'know, it isn't worth it. When you measure out the teensy number of ounces of pretzels and look at the carbs, it's just not worth eating them! Now, by the time I've chowed down on some cheese or a crudite tray, I'm not only full, I'm guilt-free!   Funniest thing of all, I no longer mindlessly shop, either. We're still laughing over the fact that some so-called "diet" foods provide no benefit whatsoever (okay, so 20 calories lower. Yay. Wow. I'm so not thrilled) for half again the cost? Uh, NO!   I thought I'd freeze to death reading all the labels in the grocery freezer section, trying to find out which so-called "diet" whipped topping actually was the most beneficial, but now I know. With the correct serving size, I now enjoy a little dessert guilt-free.   We're still laughing. And we're saving a ton of money by not buying the methyl-enthyl-bad-stuff with ingredients I can't pronounce, much less spell. All in the name of "diet." Goodbye, diet. Hello, Thinking.
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Dumpster Diving in the Back of the Closet

I ran a very unscientific poll among my friends. Most of us have what I call "the dumpster pile" in the back of the closet somewhere. It's that pile of clothes you can't wear because you gained weight, but you refuse to give up those beloved bits of wardrobe.   I had four outfits in my "dumpster" along with assorted jeans and a few shirts my fat arms were too uncomfortable to wear. Driven by desperation, I rummaged through that pile yesterday, hoping against all hope that I'd hidden a few pieces of warm clothing in there. (We're having a hard freeze here in Florida --something few of us are prepared to face.)   I pulled out a much-beloved denim duster and jeans combo. I bit my lip and tried it on. Not only did the jeans slide on, I had to adjust the belt! (Faint) Warm, warm, warm!   The doorbell rang. I had a moment of panic and slipped on my clogs before racing to the door.   Whew! UPS man delivering another package of promo items. "Wow, Mrs. A! You've lost weight! Looking good! I know it ain't clean living, ma'am. My wife reads your books."   I laugh, sign his electronic thing, and tell him I have a new LapBand.   His jaw drops. Seems his wife wants one. Now he's anxious to tell her and pulling out his cell as he hops back in the truck.   I go back to my fashion show in my closet and reap two more outfits out of the dumpster pile. A darn good day.   Lena
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Bandster Slow Poke Jambalaya

This recipe originated at SavingDinner.com. However, I had to alter some portions of it to make it reasonable for bandsters. I personally encourage the use of the Body Clutter Menus from SavingDinner.com. With minor alterations, most can be used by bandsters.     Bandster Slow Poke Jambalaya     Serves 6 (If they eat tiny portions. For hungry adults, double this recipe)     1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup chopped onion 1-1/2 cups chopped fresh tomato 1 cup chopped celery (or if your band won't take celery, substitute a teaspoon of celery salt) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 T. dried parsley or 2 T. fresh parsley, chopped fine 1 tsp. Dried thyme 1 tsp. Oregano 1/8 tsp. Cayenne pepper (Note: We like it hotter, so we added 1 tsp. Toni Chachere's creole seasoning) ½ tsp. Salt (omit if you used the celery salt) 4 oz. Smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces 8 oz. Boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces (we used 4 pieces of skinned chicken thigh because we didn't have chicken breasts and thighs are cheaper) 2 cups low sodium beef broth (or homemade, as we did) ½ lb. Cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined. (DH recommends getting the kind with tails off, but that's up to you. The tails do add flavor, believe it or not, so they're worth the extra trouble) Separate: 1 cup cooked brown rice     In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except the shrimp and rice. Give it a stir, cover, and cook on low at least 6 hours. Add shrimp and cook for another 20-30 minutes. For non-bandsters, a bit of rice in the bowl, then pour their serving over the top. Bandsters don't get rice.     These nutritional values are for a serving with rice:     232 calories 7 g. fat 25g Protein 16g carbohydrates 3g dietary fiber 93 mg cholesterol 474mg sodium
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Lesson Learned-- Don't Deviate from the Diet

Okay, I admit I got cocky. I'd been losing weight steadily and decided I did not need to keep track of what I ate anymore, not even carbs. After all, I can only fit a teensy amount in the pouch, right?   Wrong, wrong, wrong! It's not the amount, it's what I eat! Sure, I stay away from the starchy foods still. (Oh potato, I barely knew ye!) However, I've been very naughty on the sweets. The methyl-ethyl-bad stuff for a diet sweets. Yeah, I'm a junkie who backslid.   I haven't gained a pound, but I stopped losing. I deserve to be flogged!! I'm printing out my log sheet and I'm back on the wagon. I probably have a few days of carb withdrawal ahead of me. This is gonna hurt, but I did it to myself.   Lena
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BG will be proud of me...

I got the job!!   I sailed in earlier, lugging my demo stuff (without sweating like a pig, I might add), gave a clear example of some of my skills, smiled when she complimented my lovely (and three sizes smaller) outfit, and proposed new classes to the Education Manager. Her jaw hit the floor at the sheer number of things I can do, and when I proved I could even handle teen projects called Urban Threads, she was thrilled. I was hired on the spot.   My first demonstration of Punch Needle Embroidery is this coming Saturday, with a small side of Wood Burning Plaques for fun. One plaque of a Chinese Junk is done. One adorable punched Teddy Bear tote originally made for my grandson is done, and the punched butterfly for my granddaughter could be done tomorrow. Those will go on display to show what the class teaches. I'll just demonstrate Punch Needle Embroidery for three hours and take names of those interested in taking the class.   What's even the best part is I'm not technically a JoAnn Fabrics employee, so I can wear my beautifully crafted and embroidered clothes to show off not only my skills to entice students, but also my new figure! I'm a sub-contractor, and I'm used to that particular business structure and tax system. Hehehe!! This is going to be such fun!   Thanks for the encouragement, BG!
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Antici (Consta-consta-consta)-PATION!

I'm really getting annoyed now. I've tried my favorite pink pill (crushed) and even went out at 7 AM today to buy Ex-Lax. I still haven't gone, and it's been three whole days. :thumbup:   This is getting ridiculous and dangerous. Guess I'm going to have to get medieval on my body and...Yes...do an enema if things don't improve tomorrow.   Doc warned me this might happen. It's a combination of the low-carb diet and the fact that I have a band. Means I don't get enough fiber. Maybe Metamucil?   Lena
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Today's the Day

In one hour my husband's alarm will go off and I'll take a quick shower while he and our roomie enjoy their coffee. I don't begrudge them the java, but I do wish I could have some. Then we'll all three drive across town to the hospital.   Thanks to the call from my surgeon, I know I'll report to have a PIC line (sp) installed. Maybe they'll put the Heparin in through that, maybe I'll have to endure another shot in my belly.   I keep chanting to myself, "You can do this. You've been through so much to get this far. One more day. You can do this..."   I'm exercising every bit of self-control I've ever had to proverbially put one foot in front of the other and smile like nothing's bothering me despite the hunger of two days without solid food and a raging thirst. Amazing how pre-surgery nerves can turn even a strong-minded person like me into a internally gibbering wreck.   I'm keeping my eye on the prize-- the picture of me I'm using here. I weighed about 175 when that was taken. I want to look like that again. I will lose the weight that has dragged me down for fifteen years and destroyed my health.   I'm even better now than I was then. I've quit smoking, achieved my dream of being published, and I have a lovely home in Florida. The only thing holding me back has been my weight and the health issues it brought with it.   Will things be champagne and caviar after surgery? I hope not. Can't stand the stuff for one thing. (grin) No, but I won't have the anchor of ill health holding me down. I'll still be here in my little home office, typing out stories to entertain and amuse for as long as my muse stays. But, maybe once in awhile I'll go scuba diving again and not be afraid to be seen in a bathing suit. That would be nice.   Lena
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Homemade Herb Vinegars

This is a quickie trick that can develop into an obsession, I'm warning you. LOL! I've been doing this for about fifteen years, but I've been growing my own herbs and veggies that long or longer anyway!   It all started with a Purple Ruffles Basil plant. I loved that plant with its gorgeous purple leaves and mild basil taste. Then I read about making herbal vinegars by simply warming up your choice of vinegar, pouring it into an easily corked bottle (new cork, please!) and then adding herbs. I gave it a shot with white vinegar and a clear bottle that had once held wine. I was rewarded with a vinegar that slowly turned into the loveliest shade of purple and was a delight on any salad! I practically wept that winter when we used the last, knowing I'd have to grow more purple ruffles basil before we'd have more. My family made me promise to make several bottles, but it wasn't to be. My DH lost his job, and we ended up moving to Denver. We did without our purple basil vinegar for two years before I found another and successfully grew it again.   Now, you can get fresh herbs in any local grocer's produce section at almost any time of year and make many different kinds of vinegars! Tarragon vinegar is a delight! Regular basil vinegar is delicious!   What do you do with this liquid treasure? Salad dressings made with oil and vinegar. Marinades often call for vinegar. Homemade mayonnaise calls for vinegar. Some sauces call for vinegar, and one of the most delightful tricks on the planet is sliced cucumbers soaking in vinegar in the refrigerator on a hot summer day.
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My Sweet Spot At Last

For someone who's scared to death of needles, I have to say I almost enjoy my fills. This last, however, was perhaps the most challenging. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy! I've already dropped a few more pounds since my doctor visit two weeks ago. This has produced some interesting clothing mishaps.   However, I'm still wary of attending the upcoming holiday events with my loving family. Bless them all, they don't understand and can't seem to "get" that I can't have ANY carbs-- no pasta, no rice, no potatoes, no sugars, no corn, peas, winter squashes and sweet potatoes. No, not "just one bite or just this once" (frustrated sigh) I've repeated myself explaining until I'm blue in the face and annoyed.   Well, I'm done. I've turned down the family dinner invitation in favor a peaceful evening with my DH, brother, and daughter. They get it. They're benefitting as I can now take on and share household chores without getting out of breath or limping because my feet and knees couldn't take my weight before. Now I mow the lawn, pull weeds, scrub floors, and wash the car. It's fun to be healthy!   Next goal__ One-der-land!  
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Another Blow, but this one has Nerf foam on it

After spending four days in the hospital for a false alarm "heart attack" I had to go visit my PCP yesterday.   (sigh) We both agree it's clear that losing fifty pounds, attaining normal cholesterol and blood sugar, and exercising three times a week doesn't guarantee good health. However, it does give you a fighting chance. I'll take that positive.   The old specter of my many years of GERD has possibly come back to haunt me. I may have something like Barret's esophagus or (forgive me for not remembering the term well) hammered esophagus. (sigh) To rule out nastier problems, I'll go back under anesthesia for an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy. Lovely!   The way I figure it, I'll be asleep. What the heck, I refuse to worry too much about it. After all, I like anesthesia. Best sleep of my life, and as a bonus, they'll take me off Coumadin for a couple days. Even better.   There's enough on my "worry list" right now anyway.
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Stress Management and Emotional Eating

When I first began my journey toward having a LapBand, I was told an odd fact: a fair percentage of bandsters often end up with other issues such as alcoholism. I thought that rather odd, and considered myself very well-adjusted. I couldn't imagine developing such a horrible problem back then.   I can now. What's more, I now understand why.   I'm a stress eater. When I get under stress, I run to the refrigerator, not a bottle. That is, I did until I was banded. While I can still swallow those naughty treats, I don't keep many around anymore. Even ice cream, which slides past my band like it wasn't even there isn't available as much anymore, long as I avoid temptation while in the grocery store.   But where does that leave me when under stress? I don't smoke. I can't eat sweets and junk because I don't keep them around the house. Booze? Yes, it's here. I keep a small stock for cooking.   Now I can see how some bandsters, deprived of their usual comforts when under stress, turn to booze. Oh, yeah. I have to admit, thanks to recent events here at home, I've had a few glasses of wine and actually considered going for the (yuk!) bourbon. I hate bourbon. But I was desperate for any tranquilizing feel-good effects.   Okay, so clearly that's why my doctor has a shrink on staff. She may spot potential issues like OCD, or stress management issues long before they become irrepairable. I can see that now. Scary. Very scary.   The trick has been to find new methods of calming down. Walking has worked. Working, like cleaning house, helped. Doing my crafts rather obsessively has helped. Finding a job that got me out of the house has helped. It's the little things.
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Working it all out

Well, DH still is out of work, and we almost went into foreclosure, but a friend rescued us. Now if they start foreclosure, it'll be at Christmas. If DH doesn't have a job by then, well, we have a contingency plan.   Nice thing is, I'm still dropping weight. It's coming off more slowly lately, but I actually don't mind so much. I have a chance to adjust my clothes instead of finding out at the last minute that the pants bag or fall right back down to my ankles. (That was a shock the first time it happened.)   Clothes I haven't worn for years are now the mainstays of my wardrobe, and I can't wait for cold weather and my leather jeans, SIX SIZES smaller than I was a year ago.   My senior editor wants pictures, but I'm resisting until I hit Onederland.   Back to work! :biggrin:
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The Economy Hits Home--An Update

Well, DH made it home, but not without problems. Within 24 hours of his return, he was burning up with a fever. Today is the first day he awakened and said he felt better. (Relieved sigh)   Now maybe he can look for a new job. I love him very, very much. Seeing him walk through that bus terminal door made my heart burst right out of my chest, plop to the floor and roll to his feet. Scruffy, sleep-deprived, and stinking from riding a bus for 2.5 days, he was still my gorgeous darling. Yeah, I'm seriously besotted with my grumpy old man.   However, our savings had already been severely depleted by our purchase last year of this lovely house we live in. I'd not been able to replenish most of the money, though I managed about a month's worth of stockpile before the budget goes belly up.   One month to find a job before disaster. I'm looking at the month of April with desperation. I'm lighting candles and praying to that he'll find work quickly. We don't need much. A mere $1200 a month net is all we need to make ends meet.   This is also a disaster for my weight loss. My DH is a carb hound who can afford to eat rice, potatoes, bread, cakes, sweets, and starchy vegetables. The man is so thin, it's scary. My new low-carb life is impossible for him to maintain. He's positive he'll starve. (grin) So, I'm baking and cooking just like I used to before my band, and there's fudge in the fridge, chili in the crock pot, and the remains of Monkey Bread on the counter.   I can resist anything but temptation, and having the Monkey Bread on the counter was too much for me yesterday. I sliced off some and hunkered down like a child stealing cookies. Less than five minutes into it, my band made me pay dearly for my naughtiness. Umm...I never want to look at Monkey Bread again. Blech! That HURT. A lot.   I'm a stress eater, and right now I'm very, very grateful for my band. I can only do so much damage before my band reminds me forcefully that I'm not allowed that much self-indulgence.   Today, instead of eating and worrying, I think I'll update my own resume. I may be a disabled old woman, but maybe I can sweep floors or something.
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When the Going Gets Tough

Well, still no jobs for DH or I. (sigh) Man, this hurts. You'd think one of us would be sweeping floors somewhere by now, at least.   Now another blow. When my DH came home from losing his trucking job, he was so sick we took him to the doctor. She ran all sorts of tests, and we expected to hear something like diabetes, which runs in his family. That would have been bad enough.   We didn't expect to hear, "possible prostate cancer." (gulp) Yes, I had hysterics and permitted myself 24 hours of a pity party. :tounge_smile:   Didn't we have enough to worry about with job loss, and possibly losing the house to foreclosure because of the job loss?   Learning to cope without stuffing myself with food has been interesting. I've never been a drinker, but twice now I've consumed a glass of wine. That may not seem like much to some folks, but for me that's the equivalent of a binge drunk.   Do you know what happens when your tortured mind tries to compensate with food while your stomach has a LapBand? Yeah, you develop an intimate relationship with the porcelain toilet. Funny how you have more incentive to keep the darn thing pristine white when you hang your head over it so much your knees are calloused. :thumbup:   But an old dog can be taught new tricks. After hanging around my bathroom for two days in a row, I tossed the empty wine bottle in the trash and rolled up my sleeves.   When the going gets tough, the tough get cleaning.   That's always been my fallback method of dealing with stress. You'd be amazed what you find on top of the refrigerator. I think I'll use some of those old classifieds to protect the top of the fridge. Today I'm rearranging the living room. I think I need to hold another garage sale. I may lose my home in a few months if the mortgage company and I can't arrive at an agreement, but it'll be scrubbed and sparkling!   There are just some things in life that aren't fixed by losing weight, but it darn sure helps when you have the energy to get up and do something about it! I'm not crying Uncle yet!
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