marcyinak

I'm hoping that I'm up to making it to Red Robin...I don't really want to go through the thread though and get directions, can someone please post directions for me...and remember we're Alaskans...we don't speak that North, South, East, West stuff we say "left, right, up, down". Thanks!

Ok, so I've been spending the morning thinking about goals. Frankly, I LOATHE the word goal...it brings back memories of 6th grade when we had to write down our goals and I'd write something down and some authority figure would tell me either my goals weren't really goals or that I had already accomplished them... So, I'll try anyway... Lots of folks want that regular size towel to go around them with no gap...I want to be able to TAKE IT OFF and fell good about what's underneath.:biggrin1: I want to look at a picture of myself and not think that I look WAY HUGER than when I look in the mirror. :rolleyes I want my kids to be able to hug MOST of me, not just a roll of fat.:nervous I want to be the "prize" my husband deserves.:kiss2:

Crappy day in Nome! Aside from the fact that I'm hungry and even when I'm not I'm grazing (but only on protein...no carbs, been good at that) it's raining and gloomy here! Really, I have friends on this Adkins diet and I don't know how they do it! Last night I broke down and had a Pepsi One (and induction no-no) I only drank half of it and realized that really wasn't what I wanted. Maybe I should've just had sex? I'll mention that to my husband and see what happens! For those of you who aren't used to "bush" living...all trips to "town" include some serious shopping. So with my in-laws coming next week (thats 6 bags - in-state allows you 3 each) and with me leaving (there's 3 more) and my husband taking a training trip to Anchorage (3 more) I should have MOST of my shopping for the summer completed. Problem is that most of my spare time is figuring out what all we each need to buy...I think I'll stick my husband with toilet paper and diapers...the in-laws with frozen food... ahhhh, the bush life, gotta love it!

Trish - you go girl...it just took me 20 minutes to read 3 pages!

Dini - I know of the shoulder pain you speak of...I had it when I had a lap-chole (my gallbladder removed laproscopically). I swear THAT was more painful than my stomach! I also felt as if I couldn't breathe after surgery....it took Demerol, not Morphine to help with that! There's not much to do about the shoulder...it WILL get better, have some loving people massage it for you. I've been told that once you've had the "referred pain" in your shoulder you will always get it with lap procedures...something for me to look forward to! YIPPEEE! Sorry that things aren't just super for you, good luck!

Karen - Dr. K wants me to follow a VERY low carb, high protein diet (Atkins) for 10 days pre-op....I started a little early; trying to be an over-achiever! The purpose of all these pre-op diets (regardless of type and doctor) is to shrink the liver so it will be smaller for the surgery, which makes the surgery easier/safer. Dr. K has actually stopped a procedure because a patient did not follow the diet - her liver was HUGE! Anyway, after talking with him and getting mostly surgery info., I talked with Paula, the Nutritionist, and she said to keep it under 30g of carbs a day - so far it's been easy, but I DO want something crunchy! I found some nuts and I have a servering (1/4 cup) in the afternoon which seems to satisfy me so far. ALSO: Note that most of these sites are set up for folks who are having issues...now, MANY are not, please keep in mind that some information/statistics that you may come up with are skewed....there are THOUSANDS of folks who are doing just fine, don't need on-line support, and therefore, we don't have those numbers to "counter" some of the negative we see. I've also summized that MANY of the problems with the band are USER-RELATED...you have to be sure that you'll be able to follow the diet, guidelines, and your own feelings before you get this thing! Good luck with your decision!

Aubrey - I have found scheduling and the phone consults no different than if I had been in town. Being far away DOES NOT hinder me for the procedure. However, I was sure to have after-care handy close to where I live.

I'm just giving Dini something to look at when she returns to us. I hope all is well with her.... I had a thought last night that by the middle of July we'll all be on some diet (pre or post)...now if that doesn't join a bunch of folks together, I just don't know what will!

This is the last one...really, I'll quit now! Please note that BOTH of these King Salmon are mine...an uncle was helping me pose with them...he would've liked to take them home, but I was feeling selfish that day!:heh:

This is the last one...really, I'll quit now! Please note that BOTH of these King Salmon are mine...an uncle was helping me pose with them...he would've liked to take them home, but I was feeling selfish that day!:heh:

Here are the reasons I'm doing all this...

Here are the reasons I'm doing all this....

I've figured out how NOT to think of food! SLEEP! Yep, I made a deal with my son this morning that he would help feed his sister (she really feeds herself, but I didn't want to deal with cereal today) and I'd get him a Lunchable for tomorrow. Worked out GREAT! Granted I was totally lazy! The kids ended up in bed with me and we had an hour-long tickle-fight. It's going better today!

Mal, et. al. - can't try any of the actual Atkins' stuff because they don't sell it here...bummer, but that's ok, I can't stand cream and butter and I know that's what a lot of the Atkins shakes are (my parents are die-hard Atkins enthusiasts). I'm doing better today...I slept in and that kept me from thinking about food....I've never felt this way on a diet before...maybe it's the fact that I'm having surgery in 2 weeks? Hmm....

Mal - to make your pictures smaller: open your picture on your computer...in your picture managing software (mine has an option at the top "picture" and it drops down to say "compress") you should have a compress option, then compress it for a web page size (it'll usually gives you that option), then Save As - I usually save it under the same name with "comp" right after it. It will upload then. Now, there's another, more intensive way to do it if you don't have that option on your software...try this first.

Now that I've figured out how to add pictures...here are some of some Musk Ox my husband found grazing along the road about 3 miles from town. One of them has Nome in the background with the Bering Sea just beyond the city. The last one is of my Stormy with our baby chicks...she's soooo cute!

Now that I've figured out how to add pictures...now, don't get worried, I don't take pictures all the time! Here are some Musk Ox that my husband found along the road last month. They are about 3 miles from town and you can see Nome in the background with the Bering Sea just beyond. Then there's my Stormy checking out our baby chicks...she's so cute!

So, you ask yourself, "What the heck does Nome, Alaska look like?" Well, here it is! Nome in May. This is our yard...it's just dirt and rocks, but it HAS greened up on the tundra...I'll try to get another picture that's better!

Nevermind...got it!

Hey, how are you all adding photos to your posts? I have been able to "attach" a file that is a picture, but not have one show up automatically like Drews' and Mal's. What's the secret?

OK, this is suckin'! Dr. K said I didn't have to start my low-carb diet until this Friday, but I decided it wouldn't hurt to just start today and get it over with! I can't believe people survive on Atkins' diet of death! I need something crunchy (and Romaine hearts just ain't cuttin' it). Also, I keep hearing that protein fills you and makes you feel satisfied longer...WHATEVER! I feel like I'm starving! And, believe me, I AM eating! I've had a ton of water too! I'm very frustrated! It doesn't help that my kids were being little stinkers most of the day. At a playgroup where we were the only ones there for a while...my kids had their pick of big-wheels, toys, balls, etc. and they had to argue with eachother over who gets what and who was playing with whatever! AAAHHHH!!!! I was actually so exhausted by it all that I fell asleep at the table this afternoon! Things got better this afternoon, but I don't know if I can do another day of it! Maybe there'll be a snowstorm tomorrow?!

I can't remember who told me how to add a picture, but thanks for the info...I've not used the "reply to thread" I just use the quick reply, but now, by George, I've got it! :clap2: Here's a picture of me and my daughter, Stormy from last month. It finally "greened" up here so it doesn't look so dirty...although our yard is made up of dirt and rocks.

Welcom Caolin! I've heard good things about NWLS...from a doc at Southwest WLS (I think they're partners). Wow...I just looked at the time...Dini should be in recovery now! She's BANDED! My, my...two down! Now on to more serious matters: OK, this is suckin'! Dr. K said I didn't have to start my low-carb diet until this Friday, but I decided it wouldn't hurt to just start today and get it over with! I can't believe people survive on Atkins' diet of death! I need something crunchy (and Romaine hearts just ain't cuttin' it). Also, I keep hearing that protein fills you and makes you feel satisfied longer...WHATEVER! I feel like I'm starving! And, believe me, I AM eating! I've had a ton of water too! I'm very frustrated! It doesn't help that my kids were being little stinkers most of the day. At a playgroup where we were the only ones there for a while...my kids had their pick of big-wheels, toys, balls, etc. and they had to argue with eachother over who gets what and who was playing with whatever! AAAHHHH!!!! I was actually so exhausted by it all that I fell asleep at the table this afternoon! Things got better this afternoon, but I don't know if I can do another day of it! Maybe there'll be a snowstorm tomorrow?!

Ok, so what's the secret to getting a freakin' photo on here?

Did it work? Hmmm...