Suziecat

Kat- Thanks for the post. I have also noticed that Lunasa has not been on here for awhile. Lunasa Where are you?????? Tracy and I are getting snowed on. It's so pretty outside. I just put another log on the fire so now it's time to grab the kitty and suggle up in the recliner. So everybody have a great day. Be back soon. :cat:

Michele- :dance::dance::dance::dance::dance::dance: I am so happy for you. That is just to cool. TracyKS- Zip-Tic-a-lock. I promise to not say a thing but can I bring my camera? We can show the other girls us together. I'm so happy for you and your friend being able to get to share a weekend. I bet your not going to get to much sleep this weekend. Hopefully the snow we are getting right now will stay around so your trip to the plaza will be extra special. That's such a magical palce during hte holidays. I love Crown Center. Have a blast.

Morning, I quit smoking when I was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia(?) back in 1990. After being in the hospital for two weeks I decided since I had'nt had a cig in that time than it was time to see about quitting. You know, still to this day I have times were I crave one. Hubby still smokes so about 3 times a year I ask him to light one up for me. He wouldn't dream of doing it. At the time it seemed so easy to quit. I just walked away. Can't figure out how come I can't just walk away from eating. Terry, glad to hear that you can bring your Mother to your home with you. We did the same thing with my Mom and I am so glad we had the time with her before she passed away. She was here for about 3 years and there are still days I think I hear her calling me or her opening a can of diet pop. Guess I just miss her alot. Enjoy this time and don't worry about finding space for everyone. It will all work out. Gotta go get ready or work, wow that sounds so weird. But only have to work 4 hours today. Everyone have agreat day and talk to you later today. Don't forget it's CTCD. Have a good one.

Just curious. How much tequila are you going to go thru on your trip next Spring? Are you gonna fill the hot tub with it? :straight

Tracy- even though she is feeling better I will still say a prayer for your sister. That is so scary. My sister and her hubby just moved here from Florida so she could be closer to us when she has her surgery. She told the Doctor's there that she was leaving because she needed her family around her. (I didn't realize that meant moving in with us). Anyway, consider her in my prayers.

TracyKS-- Regis is now talking about Spanx. That is what the meeting is going to be about this Saturday. Supposed to be able to buy them cheap. Hmmmm. Wonder if they have a chin to ankle spanx?

Told me so, Told me so, Told me so. It still doesn't keep me from worrying. Worry Wart I am. Worry Worry Worry.

TracyKS, That's one thing I don't miss anymore. But I still have to get my boobies smashed. That's a must. Are you going to the meeting saturday? I'm hoping to make it. All depends on the weather. Hope to finally meet you and see in person what a wonderful job you have done.

:update:, :update:, :update:, :update: Just got home from working out and decided to call the Doctor's office to find out what time I was needing to come in. and Angela said "Oh Suzanne, we got so busy last night we forgot to call you to tell you the Doctor said everything looks good. He said your heart looks good and that I didn't need to come in today". She did say that it did show a thinning of the wall at the bottom of my heart but that that was probably caused by the isotopes. He recommends that I come in next week for the resting test just so they can rule that out. Woohoooooooo, Can't begin to tell you how scared I was. I feel like celebrating. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for all the prayers and nice comments. They have meant the world to me. Everyone have a great day, Ok I need another group hug right now.

Not good news. Tossed and turned all night. Yesterday when I left the stress test they told me they would look at the test and if everything looked good I wouldn't have to come back today. Well, I waited all night for that phone call. So I'm guessing that they found somethign wrong with my heart. Right now and everytime I woke up during the night I could feel the tears starting. I'm doing my best to hold my composure. Don't want my hubby to see how scared I am. Now I'm just hoping and praying that whatever it is that they can treat it with meds and not have to have surgery. Drinkng water right now. Not even going to drink my apple juice. Just want to make sure there is nothing to interfere with the test today. Hubby and I are going back to the Y to exercize together today. Think I'll just keep it light and stay with the treadmill and listen to my music. I'll keep you guys posted as soon as I know something.

You know one of the first things I noticed when I was losing weight was that I started to get a neck. I first noticed one morning when I was brushing my teeth and was looking in the mirror. I'm still amazed. I even keep rubbing my collar bones that are now starting to show. Wow this is so cool.

Laura. What a difference. Your right, your face did get thinner. I love your new little pic on the side. I noticed it first before I read your post. You are adorable looking. Got back from the stress test a little while ago. I'm pooped- maybe it's the margaritas I drank afterwards. Anyway. that is not anything for the weak at heart. Kicked my butt big time and my thighs are still screaming. They walk you on the treadmill for about 2-3 minutes at a pretty good pace to get your heart rate up a little. Then they inject a heart tracer into your IV and then increase the treadmill to almost a jog for 2 minutes. All the while it is on an incline. I told them I was about done and they just kept telling me I could do it. "You're all right, just hang on. You're almost there". I made it and then had to lay in an e-ray machine for 15 minutes. Almost fell asleep. They are supposed to call me tonight and if everything looks good I don't have to come in tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed. We went to our favorite mexican food restaurant and ordered the steak, chicken and shrimp fajitas. We have enough food left over for at least 2 more meals. I chose to drink my meal. Thank you, yes I am a slush. Love my tequila. But I only drink it about 3 times a year. I'm a cheap slush. We had a great time though. Thank You so much for all the thoughts and prayers. I truly appreciate them. Everyone have a great evening.

Sitting here surfing the net and I found the article on the woman that lost over 500 pounds. She was on Oprah last week. I didn't see it but I saw a clip of some of what she said. Here is an excerpt I thought was most interesting and I hope you will too. This shows the power that you all have to help each other. This is why I like coming here. With out knowing each other you have managed to make a big impact on each others lives. One day I noticed a boxed area labeled "politics." It had another listing below: "chat room." I was intrigued and decided to join this group. There were varieties of opinions expressed; some people's writings were well thought out, others just seemed to spew invective. I began to find that I had favorite members, and they were not necessarily those who shared my political bent, but all had one thing in common. Wit. Humor, the ability to laugh at one's self or at things, even serious ones is a sure sign of intelligence in my book. You can get your point across far better with a few well-placed words than with some long, nasty diatribe. Will Rogers, Mark Twain or Abraham Lincoln's words easily make my point. Within a few weeks some of these members and I had exchanged personal e-mail addresses and a whole new chapter began. I was blissfully unaware of what was to come; what was already happening. I only knew that I was feeling better about getting up each day, that I had something to look forward to doing and that was enough for me. I came to know these people well. We shared family births, deaths, marriages, divorces, reunions, graduations, sorrows and joys. We shared humor as well. I wrote, still do to do this day, horrid limericks for a man in England, and he returns the favor. Laughter, the common thread woven through the tapestry of humanity heals us. Who could have imagined that a machine, a computer could become the catalyst for a 180 degree change in the direction of my life? I am still the most surprised of all. I remember the day I realized I was losing weight. I had no scale in my home; none could accommodate one third of my mass. I typed seated on an enormous ottoman. That morning, my companion of many years, a highly neurotic calico cat jumped up onto the seat beside me. It was enough to make me stop tapping on the keyboard. I looked down at her in puzzlement, and then laughed at myself; there was nothing unusual about a cat jumping. They did it all the time. Then it dawned on me. There had never been room for her to land on the seat in all the years I'd had her. Here is what I know now. Being obese is an external symptom of an internal turmoil. Unlike an alcoholic who can many times mask his or her problem with a fine linen suit and a breath mint, or the pearly-tooth grin of a man who goes home at night and slaps his wife around, the fat person wears their problem where all can see it and be judged accordingly and immediately. My weight loss was a "side effect" of regaining my worth, of rediscovering my value. It was no longer a struggle to control what I ate. It came naturally to me. I was valued by others and in turn valued myself. I was being loved and nurtured by faceless strangers. In a world where you are given levels of worth dependent on first impressions, these friends accepted who I was based on my mind and soul. The anonymity of the computer gave me access to a world that would've just as well have left me alone, alone to die. But I did not. After reading that (sorry it's so long). I'm in further awe of all of you guys. You come here everyday and without knowing it make such an impact on my life. Knowing that you accept me for what's inside and not by what I look like. You are amazing and I have to be one of the most blessed persons because I have been accepted by you. I am going to say an extra special prayer for all of you tonight when I lay my head on my pillow. I will ask God that he continue to bless each and everyone of you and your family's. I will ask that he make others aware of what Angels you are and to continually keep you safe. God bless all of you. Ok, Now I have a favor to ask. Today is my 25th. wedding anniversary. Can I have a pass on the CTCD for today? That way we can go out to eat tonight. Now remember that I had a fill yesterday so I'm sure my portion will be eating off of my hubby's late. But just incase we decide to get a dessert or something. Thanks. Now it's time for our group hug.

Pam- 3 mornings a week my sister and I drag our butts out of bed at 5:30am and go to the Y. It's about a mile from our house. We swim in the in-door pool that is heated to 89 degrees. It is a walk in and it's right next to the larger pool that they use for swim meets and diving. I haven't been in it as it's a lot cooler it there. After, we get in the showers and rinse off and then get dressed to go home. By that time the guys are out of bed and starting their work out. The do the eliptical and than weights. I usually walk out wearing damp clothes and my slippers. I than change clothes and go to Curves to work out and back home to shower and shampoo. That's 3 times a week that we do that. By Friday I'm pooped. But I'm dedicated. Why in the world would I want an mp3 with a BMI calculator on it. I would only end up throwing it on the ground. :heh:

OMG. My feet are killing me. Started my new job today and all went really well. I woked out for a half an hour and than stood at the desk doing computer work. Stood there for 4 hours. But it kinda felt good. I think I was on a high from just being there and learning something new. When I got home the first thing I did was take some aleve. I think I'm really gonna love my job. Went to get a fill today. You should have seen the smile on Dr. Malley's face when he looked at my 12lb weight loss. I was ecstatic. He even agreed to give me a little more of a fill. I don't see him again till the first of February so it has to last. All in all I have had an outstanding day. Now I'm not allowed to have any caffeine till tomorrows procedure. That means NO CHOCOLATE. Yikes. Then nothing to eat or drink after 7am. That's gonna be hard. I'll miss my water. I asked if I could sip and they said nope, nothing. I'm feeling good about tomorrow and praying that all turns out well. Hope everyone had a good day and I'll check in tomorrow night after we get home.

Kat- Starting tomorrow morning no food or drink after 7am. I report to the hospital at 1:45 and they will give me an IV. I than walk on the treadmill for about 5 minutes and than they inject a heart tracer into the IV. Than I leave to go get something to eat and come back and back on the treadmill for I don't know how long. From there I go for X-rays. Wednesday morning again nothing to eat or drink after 7am. Back to the hospital at 1:45 and hooked back up to the IV. I just lay there and they run some test, go out to eat and come back and lay there some more and than back to X-rays. I think that is how the nurse explained it to me. I talked to Nikki on Friday. She's Dr. Malley's nurse and we determined that it's not the band. It hasn't slipped or anything. She called again later on to check on me and said that Dr. Malley would call in a prescription form me if I needed it. Told her I would just call my regular Doc if needed. I did get some gas-x and tried that. It helped a little. Starting my new job today. But first off to go swim for an hour. Everyone have a great week and let's all try to keep on track. I's a new week and we can all do this.

Laura, Love the color you used, everything looks great. TracyKS- You are amazing and you look wonderful. All day long I have been thinking about you and the fudge and just keep reminding myself that I can do it too. I'm gonna be the one to Not stuff myself with the goodies. By the way, what kind of exercising do you do? I don't think I have ever heard you say you do anything. Getting things in order. I have a huge week ahead of me. Starts out swimming in the morning than coming home to get ready to go to my new job. I'm so excited. Than I go see Dr Malley for a fill. Have a few things later in the evening to do. Than Tuesday is my twenty fifth wedding anniversary. I have weigh-in in the morning and than I think I have to work again. Than I have to be at Center Pointe Hospital to start my stress test. It's a two day procedure, so I have to go back again on Wednesday. Hopefully Darrell and I can go out to dinner Tuesday night but with me just getting a fill I'm sure I will be eating off of his plate. It's been bitterly cold here today. My feet can't seem to get warm. Everyone have a great evening.

Gosh, can you believe it's December 1st? Where has the year gone? Just sitting here watching the news. It's raining outside and a cold 36 degrees. Supposed to get up to 57 today but still rainy. Looks like a stay in day for me. I do have to get out latter though. I go to church on Saturday and to day is my day to Usher. I also volunteered to sell nuts after church for the Womens' Ministry. It helps raise money so we can do things around the church. Than it's Football night. GO MU.:cheer2: Kat- I'm jealous about the bathtub. The only time I get to use the tub is when I sit one the side to shave my legs. I just barely remember the last time I ever did take a bath. Hopefully in a year I will be able to try it again. Everyone have a great day :clap2:

Tracy-- That is so Onederful, you being almsot to Onedeland. Might be your Christams present to yourself. Ok Girls, I need your input. For the last couple of days I have been having this heaviness in my chest and felt my heart not racing but like it was pumping a little harder. Well today it just seemed to get worse so I told my Hubby about it. I decided not to go to the ER and to just see what it would do. Around noon I couldn't stand it anymore and I got a hold of the Doctor's office and they said to come in at 2:45. They said in the meantime if I needed to go to the ER to just go. So I just got home from the doctor's and told him what was happening. He asked me all kinds of questions, was I nausea, vomiting, sweating, lightheaded yadda yadda yadda. Non, no, no and so on. So I told him some times when I have to much gas built up I feel this way too but this is the first time I felt my heart beating this way. We talked about a few other things and I told him that I was seeing Dr. Malley on Monday. He than said that it could be my band pressing on my organs that is causing this. I said that I was wondering that too. Seems like when I suck in I can feel pressure in my chest and towards my back. So in the mean time he has ordered a stress test to be done. He said he doesn't think there is anything wrong with my heart but he can't tell that by just looking at me. I just had an eco-cardiogram done about 6 months ago. He needs the test done. They are supposed to be calling me here in the next hour to tell me when to report to the hospital for it. We start there and than see what has to be done next. I told my Husband that I don't want the test done because I have heard that it hurts and that it makes you feel like you are having a heart attack. Has anyone had this doen? Can you tell me about it. I'm not really scared just a little nervous. Tell me what you guys think.

Kat-- Your story reminds me that there is so much power in us that we tend to forget about it. Your power to withstand what you went thru is amazing. I am in awe of your strength. I will keep you in my prayers that time will heal your heart and lessen the memories of that awful past. Cindy-- :welcomeB:, I was like you and hung around in the shadows till I was outed one day. I am so ever thankful for these girls. They have inspired me beyond belief. Getting ready to go to Curves and exercise. Don't forget it's CTCDay. Everyone have a great day. :clap2:

Laura, So glad to hear that things are getting back on track for you. Just hang in there. It will get better. TracyinKS, I go next week to see Dr. Malley. I just adore him. I'm not sure he knows how to handle my sense of humor. When I told him my band and margarita story he just stood there and shook his head. Didn't know what to say to me. But I did get him to laugh about it. I used to ask him about how much he is in my band but he just seems like he doesn't really want to tell me. I'm just gonna trust him. You guys are not going to believe this. You know I told you about getting the job at curves? Well I had been home for about an hour when the phone rang and it was company that I had worked for a few years back wanting to know if I would come back to work. Yikes. 2 jobs in one day. I stewed about it for awhile and decided to stay with curves. It's just a part time job and that would still give me the flexiblity to do what I want. Like going out to lunch with my friends and going to the movies and all the other stuff I do. I wasn't really wanting to go back to full time work. What a day for me. Everyone have a great evening.

Michelle, I couldn't have said it better myself . You hit it right on the nose. I'm responsible for who I am and what I will be. I'm in charge. So I'm gonna pull my boot straps up and kick myself in the fanny and get on with my "losing" life. (TeeHee.) We will all get thru this funk that's going on and will be back to losing again. We are all in this together. As far as the runny nose thing going on. I finally after taking 2 sudafed decided to take a benedryl. That worked for awhile and than I took another one. My nose was running like the mississippi. Finally got it to dry up. Drove me wacky. Now I'm putting neosprine on my nose because of all the wiping. It turned beet red.

When I started looking into having the lap-band done, one of the things that the insurance company required was a pshyc-eval. Well I left there crying and cried for about 3 hours. After just being in her office for 30 minutes she told me that my problem was my parents and my religion. they were the downfall to me. I still to this day can not figure out how she figured that out. We hardly talked about my parents and never talked about my religion. I certainly don't remember my parents forcing me to drive thru and pick up a extra large value meal and cramming it down my throat. Or the 6 pack of tacos, the large pepperoni pizza, the Blizzards, the donuts. I don't remember them being there in my apartment shoving the bag of fritos in my mouth. Drinking the 2 2liter bottles of coke and the countless snicker bars and bags of m&m's. IT"S NOT MY PARENTS FAULT. I'm the one who made these choices and knew what I was getting into. Was I covering something up? No I wasn't abused as a child, I had 2 of the greatest parents you could ask for. I had a wonderful childhood and wouldn't trade it for nothing. Unfortunatly I never learned to tell myself NO. And the more weight I put on the worse it got. It was a guilty thing I threw at myself. I ate to feel better and cover up my lack of self-esteem. Food was my boyfriend-my best friend- my confident. Now I'm in the fight for my life. I'm suffering the affects of all that now. But by making the decision to have the lap-band was huge for me and one I will never regret. Also coming here and meeting all of you and listening to all your stories has been a huge boost for me. All of you are a true inspiration to me and I thank God for leading me to you. Ok, I woke up in a better mood today. We didn't go swimming so I waited till the guys got home and than I went to curves to work out. Hold on to your hats Ladies. They offered me a job, :wow2:, Can you believe it? I was so excited I tried not to grin to much. I start training next Monday and than I will actually start after the first of the year. I could hardly wait to get home to tell the hubby. It's only a couple of days a week, which is good for me and also I don't have to pay monthly dues anymore. HUGE. I like that part. I was so energized by it I came home and tore into my house cleaning like crazy. Hubby is like "what is with you?". Too excited. Off to go take a shower and than meet my friend Judy for lunch. You all have a great day and talk to you later.

Woke up this morning and was in one of the pissy moods and on top of that, it's weigh in day. Not looking real good for me. I'm thinking I did ok for the holiday but I did alot of snacking. Everyone makes such wonderful food and you feel obligated to eat it. They tell you "Oh just take one bite, it won't hurt you". "It's the holiday, so enjoy yourself". Are they out to sabotage me or am I the one doing the sabotaging? I'm the one with all the control and I need to use it. I need to be the strong one and I am the one that WILL do this. I'm worth everything I have been thru in the last year. Still in a pissy mood but was coming out of it after I went to weigh in. Actually managed to lose .6lbs in the last week. So I'm feeling good about that. I also seem to be in this funk that everyone else is in. And to me it maybe because of the holidays and thinking about all the food and candy that will be around. My sister gave me a box of "Pot of Gold" choclates. WHAT THE FU#k. Do people just don't think or do they just don't care. Well, it's still sitting there un open and my goal is to see how long it will sit there. Believe me, once it's open it's going back to her or my hubby will have strict orders to hide it where he will be the only one to eat it. But it's just starting. There will be more of this stuff happening because it's that time of the year. The boxes of candy, the fudge, the tins of popcorn and the gobs of cookies. I WILL BE STRONG. I'm getting ready to leave. Taking my other sister to go see "Mr. Magorium's magic Emporium". Here we go, popcorn time. Can I do this? You bet I can. Everyone, have a great afternoon and this will pass. We will all get thru this and be stronger for it. We will be so proud of ourselves. Ok, time for a group hug:grouphug:

Just got home from driving around looking at X-Mas lights. I love doing that. We have a neighborhood here were they go all out. They actually have a lighting ceremony and than it's like a 3block drive winding thru the neighborhood seeing all the scenery. Then at the end each night they have a different non-profit taking donations and they pass out candy canes. It's so much fun. Longview Lake also has a drive thru. You go thru the camping area. It's sponsored by the County. It's 30 degrees here now and we have a fire in the fireplace. The TV is going with the MU-KU BorderWar College game going. Go MU. Going to be gone most of the day tomorrow. We are going to SIL's. They are having a get together to celebrate their 40th Anniversary. It will be good to see some cousins we haven't seen for awhile. Still trying to work on getting some pics on here. I'll get it figured out some day. Don't want to scare you guys but thought you might like to see who your talking with. I'll get it done. Everyone have a great evening. :clap2: If there is a picture here it is of me from when we went to St. Louis in July.