marcyinak

Jackie - the pictures are real telling of your weight loss! But I noticed even more the look in your face on your before picture...look how sad you are! Sure we can gain confidence, etc., but gaining happiness is what really matters to me! Good job!:tt1:

Mal - you poor thing! Andrew JUST had two stones! Attack came on on a Wed. night and by the next Wed. he passed one and a few days later passed the other. Thing to know...when you have even a tingle of pain, take the meds! Drink LOTS of liquids to get them out! Depends on their size (usually they're passable), the doc should've done a test (ultrasound or there's a new kidney stone CT scan that can be done - that's what Andrew had in Anchorage)to see how many and what size they are. Sometimes the doc wants you to "catch" the stones in a strainer so they can be annalyzed. They didn't have us do that. Andrew said he was "achy" for a day after, but we've had NO pain since! So there's a bright future!

Sunshine - I don't remember exactly how long I stayed on mushies, but I didn't think it was that long. I was told by Dr. K that I "could progress as I felt comfortable doing" and that the purpose was to HEAL and NOT vomit. So...go ahead and try some things and see how they do...remember to chew well and don't engulf something! I tend to do this when I sit down to eat...that the meal is "finally" ready and I eat the first couple of bites too fast and end up stuck for a while and just sit there at the table until it finally goes down (or my pouch stretches a little)...it's uncomfortable, but it DOES remind me to slow it down! Take it easy on yourself and try to enjoy the new you! Lost a couple of pounds, but it's a little disconcerting...so I've been faithfully working out 3x a week and then there's a lot of shovelling to do (been snowing like crazy for a couple of weeks). Then I had a weekend where I ate crap (cake and ice cream anyone?). I check the scale everyday (this keeps me in check, I'm not crazy about it, but it works for me) and I keep going down! Not that I'm thrilled that the scale is finally moving again, but mentally this is a little encouraging to eat crap if you know what I mean!:tongue:

[quote=IndioGirl55;694495Hey Chim - CONGRATULATION 44 LBS GONE... Can't wait to see your pic's – And Please come around more often – last night I was thinking about all the people who don’t post anymore –You - Sunny – Jeanine – Lynette – Marcy – Dini (well her and Marcy do stick their heads in every now and then) and I know I am missing a whole lot more but – I am old so please forgive me I a forgetting a lot of names but these are the ones that are coming to me this second. Hay Indio - Here I am popping my head in! Things are good here...lots of snow! Which means lots of shovelling! Which means EXCERSIZE! Yuck! But I'm doing it and keeping active...if that's all I can do. I'm still working out at least 3 times a week with a class and then there's all that shovelling!Ahhh, so much to do, so little time! I'm looking forward to spring, but rest assured that THAT won't happen until May - at least...just count your blessings you "Lower 48 folks". I'm down another couple of pounds...that plateau was going to kill me! I'm chalking it up to working out. Although I've noticed a trend that when I have a "bad eating" couple of days I drop a couple of pounds! I don't like this trend, it makes eating crap look good!

Michelle - Well, now that Dec. 21st is over (the darkest day) there's "hope" everyday with every extra minute that we gain...this is the GOOD gain! Haha! The darkness doesn't bother me that much, never has...I just turn on a lot of lights in the house...which Andrew hates, but oh well! I'll be spending my whole evening grinding meat..WAHOO! I can't wait! Can you hear the sarcasm? I like the rain, but not every day! It's been quite warm this week...even rained last night (super nnniiiiiiiiicccceee when there's a foot of snow you haven't shovelled yet!) Alls good here in Nome... I'm sooo freakin' busy! :ohmy:I am now the proud "coordinator" for a speghetti feed on Friday and our BIG auction in Feb. Sooo much to do...keeps me busy and not eating though and that's important!

fatwidow - Welcome! I've been off the board for a few days...lots going on! I had my surgery in July...had to fly from Nome, Alaska. I brought my sister and had an EXCELLENT surgery and recovery (and I've had abdominal surgery before - lap cholecystectomy and 3 c-sections...this was by far the best one!) I flew in on Mon. and had my pre-op appointment, surgery Tues. morning, and after walking through Target and every Dollar Store we could find (good excersize and we don't have those in Alaska so it was fun) I flew home Thurs. evening - very comfortably! I was eating "normal" within three weeks...you're body lets you know what you can and can't eat. Fills are difficult for me since I have to travel to Anchorage ($$$) to get them. Make sure you have your aftercare set up first. The phone "interviews" with the nutritionist and Dr. K are just as good as being in the office. Dr. K also saw me the day I left, but that was my call, not his...I just wanted to "be sure" before I left town. The surgery, trip, hassle for it all was worth it! Good luck! Everyone - Oh my...spent SEVERAL hours grinding moose meat today...finally getting around to it (it's been -20 out, who wants to butcher in that kind of cold? at least the meat froze and didn't rot! Haha) Andrew then told me that we'd only got 1/2 way through ONE leg! Maybe a rib or two too! YIKES! I'm pooped! My friends daughter has aortic stenosis and is requiring surgery - again. I'm working on a speghetti feed for next week. My son's birthday is tomorrow and I've been coloring balloons to make them look like pokeballs, I've made and painted a pinata that looks like a pokeball, and I've colored little pokemon to decorate the house with...did I mention I'm pooped? Well, I'm also in charge of the biggest fund raiser for the year for our preschool...how did I get roped into this? It's just crazy! I've still been working out 3 times a week at a class which is helping with the stress. I've done something I've never done before with an ab excersize so that was motivating! I do some major moving at home...I'm not lazy at all. However, I've found myself drinking a soda (NOT diet) once a day and that's not going to help anything! I've finally lost a pound! Not that it is a big deal or anything, but it's that pound that takes me off of my plateau weight...haven't been this low for YEARS! Feels good! My boobs/cleavage looks awesome today! We're having a blizzard warning right now...maybe more snow?! Big deal...the shoveling keeps me active and it's at least ABOVE zero now so I can handle it! 'night all!

Yes, I had second thoughts, but as soon as I got to Denver I knew it was the right thing to do...we've ALL lost weight before, we just ALL gained it back. This is a tool for me to keep it off. My goal wasn't to lose a bunch of weight, but to NOT GAIN anymore! I've managed to keep off my 35 lbs. loss so far and it's been several months, something I've NEVER managed to do before. Look at it as a long-term weight loss...because that's what it is...it's not just for the year and then you'll gain it all back again...and then some!

Lap - You know, I'd never guess you were 48! Haha! I have this teacher for my workout class that's something like 26 and she looks like she's almost in her 40's (I believe there's a thing like "too fit")! What's wrong with people now that they have to over-do the excersize thing? I think it makes women look strange. Another reason why my goal weight is 180 and not 140! Not that I'm getting to 180 all that fast..... I think you'll meet your goal, congrats on losing thc Christmas weight! I can't seem to get the scale moving - in EITHER direction! Strange! I'm happy it's not going up though...I started the workouts though and things are looking up...ok, not really, haven't done it enough, but I'm hopeful! Haha!

Ami - Things will go fine for you if you're able to stick to your pre-pre-op diet! :biggrin1: I, too, started a little early and was able to lose 14 lbs. before the surgery...sorry to say that the 35 lbs. I've lost INCLUDES that 14 lbs., but it's still a loss and I haven't gained any back. Fills are a major issue for me so I didn't expect to lose as quickly as everyone else. Sounds like you'll do fine though. Just remember that the time after the surgery (before your first fill) is for RECOVERY...take it easy on yourself and don't worry about the scale...it really starts to happen when you get filled! Perfect timing...looks like you'll have a FANTASTIC summer!:whoo:

Anita - TOTALLY makes sense to me! I'm still having trouble with the protein...I drink my shakes and can eat fish with no problem, but I miss chicken, and steak! I'm worried that if I get a fill (which I need because my portions of easy to eat stuff are too large and I'm not losing weight) that I'll lose the fish! We just got that monstrous moose and I've been able to eat moose (ground anyway), but I'm afraid of losing that too! What to do?! What to do?!

Kari - Yep, I agree....reading and typing keeps my hands busy and I'm not eating! Haha! Also, good job on the biking...why don't you bike yourself up here? There's no road here, but you can bike to Fairbanks and then just add about 400 miles! You could say your headed to the Idtarod! (Which is just over 1000 miles so you could actually bike the Iditarod!) There's an Idita-swim challenge here...swim a minute for every mile (it's like 1049 miles or something). I go at least twice a week with the family, but only for about an hour...I don't think I could make it, but then, maybe I could start getting up early and doing laps? Nah....what am I? Insane? No way! I'll leave all that to Phyll!

I "worked out" with our Wii the other day...I exaggerate the moves and totally worked up a sweat with the boxing trainer...you just hit the bag over and over...not a lot of thinking, just punching! It was fun and the boys thought I was hillarious! I totally recommend the Wii for a little workout...better than nothing! Funny with the Wii though...I get sick watching other video games, but not with this one! Cool! OK, so I've got a friend that I tried getting to go get the band with me last summer, but now she's decided she wants the gastric sleeve. Has anyone heard of this...she says that the "reports look promising"...I thought this was pretty new and experimental. I have since learned that her idea of research is a lot less than my idea. We talked a bit about it last night. She is definitely and "excuse person" with all the excuses she makes about how she is just "hungry all th time" and it has nothing to do with WHAT she eats or HOW MUCH she eats. I watched her eat at a New Year's Eve party and the size of bites she could get in her mouth were ginormous! I very gently (although this is not my nature) explained about "head hunger" etc. after the surgery and that there are ways to get around all the surgeries. Incidentally, her mom had a RNY bypass several years ago, lost a bunch of weight - looked like she had cancer, then gained back almost 50lbs. I think my dear friend is looking for a quick fix and I don't think she's going to find it under a knife! Anyhoo...I've been the same weight since I got back from the cruise in November....It's suckin' and I'm ready to go get a fill. I won't be able to get to Anchorage until Feb. so it'll be a while. I've done really good excersizing though and have stretched out enough to lower myself to the toilet without too much comedy! :-)

OK, so I've got a friend that I tried getting to go get the band with me last summer, but now she's decided she wants the gastric sleeve. Has anyone heard of this...she says that the "reports look promising"...I thought this was pretty new and experimental. I have since learned that her idea of research is a lot less than my idea. We talked a bit about it last night. She is definitely and "excuse person" with all the excuses she makes about how she is just "hungry all th time" and it has nothing to do with WHAT she eats or HOW MUCH she eats. I watched her eat at a New Year's Eve party and the size of bites she could get in her mouth were ginormous! I very gently (although this is not my nature) explained about "head hunger" etc. after the surgery and that there are ways to get around all the surgeries. Incidentally, her mom had a RNY bypass several years ago, lost a bunch of weight - looked like she had cancer, then gained back almost 50lbs. I think my dear friend is looking for a quick fix and I don't think she's going to find it under a knife! Anyhoo...I've been the same weight since I got back from the cruise in November....It's suckin' and I'm ready to go get a fill. I won't be able to get to Anchorage until Feb. so it'll be a while. I've done really good excersizing though and have stretched out enough to lower myself to the toilet without too much comedy! :-) Sunshine and all the other "newbies" - let it be known that I had an EXCELLENT recovery. I slept on my side the first night and my tummy after 3 days. I was stiff, but in very little pain...to note, I took my pain pills regularly (one, not two) which took the edge off enough to go for walks (Target and Dollar Store - stuff we don't have here). I also started on mushies within a couple of days and regular food (chewed up well) after about a week. I was eating regularly after about 3 weeks. I have a 2 yr old too and my husband went on a trip a week after my surgery...she was great...I helped her climb in and out of the crib and just sat down for her to get into my lap...she adapted and so will your child...remember, you need to recover and not to push it...I did notice that the first few times that I DID carry her that my tummy was sore (not painful, just sore) for a day afterwards. Good luck! Mine is a "good" story of the band...just wish I'd start losing again!

Happy Birthday Michelle!!!!

Viri - I concur with other in staying the extra day. I had my surgery Tues. morning and flew home Thurs. night. It wasn't so bad, but I was glad that I had a few days without all my "at home responsibilities" (even if it's putting the dishes away). In the end, what's another $100 for hotel and $20 (at most) for a pet care place? (or free if you have a good friend). Really, you want your recovery to go as smooth as possible!

Acutally, I'm in PAIN today! I never realized my toilet was so low to the floor! Squatting to light a fire in our wood stove was KILLER this morning! Didn't help that I had to go out at -20 and get the garbage ready and fish out lugguage for my husband! Now, THAT was fun!:angry It's all a "good" pain, but I am NOT looking forward to tomorrow's class! At least my arms are working! Let it be known that I'm TOTALLY embarrassed:o that I'm so out of shape!

OK, so I FINALLY excersized today...an actual class...it was something like "strength and tone" or some silly title...well, I feel weak and wobbly! I can barely make it up stairs and I almost fell getting into my friend's house! 'Bout dropped my daughter! Too funny, guess I'll just have to go back and do it again!C'mon, Anita, if I can do it, so can you!

Swimming is always and option...a stationary bike too...no weight, just the movement. Also a weight lifty class/program...you can leave out the squats and work your upper body.

For those of you who asked... Moose (1 lb. raw - like I could eat that much) 456 calories 3.3 g fat (it's the leanest meat out there!) 99.5 g of protein! If you cook it with a little garlic powder...tastes a lot like beef, I use it for anything with a sauce (taco sauce, meatballs, mixed with beef for meatloaf, speghetti, etc.) I also do a lot of roasts...it can get quite dry so I stay away from the steaks. We'll be making some jerky with this moose though...the freezer's getting full! :-)

I'm so excited! Andrew just got home from hunting today....he got his first moose! He was only out less than 2 hrs with his friend and they spotted a smaller one and while catching up to it they saw this one...we measured the antlers and they were 66 1/2 inches! (That's BIG for those of you who don't understand the lingo.) We figure we'll get about 600 lbs. of meat from him! WAHOO! :whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2:

I'm so excited! Andrew just got home from hunting today....he got his first moose! He was only out less than 2 hrs with his friend and they spotted a smaller one and while catching up to it they saw this one...we measured the antlers and they were 66 1/2 inches! (That's BIG for those of you who don't understand the lingo.) We figure we'll get about 600 lbs. of meat from him! WAHOO! :whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2:

Happy New Year everyone!:whoo::clap2: May we all be blessed with: -small numbers on our scale and big numbers in our wallets:D -small sizes in our waists/butt/thighs;) -big smiles from old friends:biggrin1: -big outlook on our new lives:rolleyes:

Happy New Year everyone!:whoo::clap2: May we all be blessed with: -small numbers on our scale and big numbers in our wallets:D -small sizes in our waists/butt/thighs;) -big smiles from old friends:biggrin1: -big outlook on our new lives:rolleyes:

OK - TMI coming up, but need help. Got my tubes tied with my last kid and since then I have two added problems: I crave chocolate a week before my period (I don't normally like the stuff) and my blood flow is more than it's ever been. So, after sleeping through this past week I realized last night that I'm low on iron! No wonder since I can't eat meat and usually I just have a steak or two during "that week" and that keeps me going. Any suggestions on getting my iron up? I'd like to start working out, but can't get out of bed! Ahhhh!