JustWatchMe

Beautiful !!

I have had arthritis in my knees for decades. I got cortisone shots in both knees every four months. Once I lost 100 pounds after lap band last year, I no longer need the shots in my left knee, just my right one. I also went from taking nabumetone daily to Tylenol, to now, nothing. No NSAIDs since pre surgery. I'm 54 and never discussed knee surgery. My rheumatologist always stressed that I need to exercise, but at 300 pounds I just couldn't and didn't. Now I do and I feel the difference in my thigh muscles. That helps relieve joint stress. I walked a 5k this last weekend. My knee hurts and I'm actually scheduled for my shot tomorrow. Good timing. Good luck and get another opinion.

Just want to add: this isn't a boo-hoo, poor-me post. I'm really thinking that this time, to get to goal, I'm going to have to uncover and solve - somehow - the forces that keep me subconsciously hanging on to this cushion around me. I see a therapist for my divorce. I'm going to ask her tonight if she has expertise in this area or can recommend someone who does.

He's a narcissist. I know the type. It was his way of being the center of attention because he had info nobody else did. Complete d**k. There is no reason to excuse it or second guess it.

The 5k was so much fun. We walked it in an hour and nine minutes. Not speedy, but we did it! We underestimated how far away the parking was so we actually walked an extra mile before and another after the 5k. My knee is sore but I'm glad I did it.

Thanks, Lisa and Julie. You're the best. I'm walking the 5k with a friend and we are wearing matching t-shirts from my daughter's sorority fundraiser. Love the flying fish, Lisa !! Julie, this divorce is just creeping forward. I'm just turning the results over to God and trusting in my expensive attorney. We're not wealthy, but what we do have is being wasted on this long and drawn out process. Just for spite. I know I've gotten stronger. I just have days when it doesn't feel that way. But when I think back on the paralysis I was in before I got my surgery and left him, it's like night and day. The good thing is that my girls are not in victim mode. They are resilient and enjoying being away from the daily craziness we lived in last year. So it will all work out. Not on my schedule, but I trust that God has good things planned for me.

I am in awe of the strength of the women in this thread. Praying hard.

Unjury makes single serving packets that were a godsend on vacation. I keep them at work now, and use a small plastic peanut butter jar as my shaker.

Congrats!

I haven't posted much lately. I've been struggling, but maintaining my weight. The last couple of days has been easier. I'm not sure why I've had so much hunger recently. I know I don't need a fill because if I eat solid Protein I can feel restriction, and have to eat slowly to avoid getting stuck. Lots going on. NSETBEx returned the Father's Day card his daughters mailed him, with a snotty note attached. They're done. A coworker friend and his wife were in a horrible car accident Sunday and he may lose a finger. The car that crossed the highway and hit them head on was driven by a young mother of three. She died at the scene. Saturday I'll walk in my first ever 5k. My knee is in a lot of pain but I can't get my steroid shot until July 1. However, walking should be okay. My training at the gym is temporarily on hold until after the shot. Sorry to ramble. Feeling rather anxious lately about so much stuff. Divorce, money issues. NSETBEx isn't obeying one of the court order items and we haven't even started discussing the house. My lawyer will be going out of town for three weeks just at the time NSETBEx is supposed to pay college tuition. Ugh. Perspective, right? Some day this will be behind me. A friend of mine filed for divorce in December (actually her husband filed) and signed her final papers last week. She used my lawyer. However, they had a collaborative divorce. Not me. Next month will be a year that I moved out and filed. And we're still in the discovery phase because he simply won't cooperate and produce documents. Getting worn out by all of this. I hope the 5k does me some emotional good. I need to feel strong again. Thanks for listening! ????

I've started including these little peppers in my lunch. Big crunch and low calorie. I had about six of these with my cheese sticks. Yum! What's your new favorite thing?

My daughters returned home from college a couple of weeks ago. One was out of state and one was out of the country. Yesterday they both gave me a stern lecture about my eating habits. It took me aback, but I realized they are right. They watched me basically reclaim my life last year and drop 100 pounds, which is 2/3 of my excess weight. I made enormous life changes and they were part of it. But since that time, I've gotten complacent. I deluded myself into thinking that the recent changes I made in exercise (joining a gym and actually going) were enough to offset the food choices I was making. My girls pulled no punches. They told me if I kept eating the fried and fatty food I've been eating, sooner or later the weight won't stay at this number anymore, and I'll regain what I lost. I'll gain it all back and go back to my old way of living. I was shocked, but I can see their point today. I haven't wanted to change from fried food to broiled food. I haven't wanted to give up these delicious things, and I rationalized it by calling it Protein. Well, protein battered and deep fried isn't protein, it's protein soaked in fat. My younger daughter said I need to train myself to like healthier versions. I need to train my palate to enjoy home cooked broiled chicken instead of Popeye's fried chicken strips. I need to make my own chili instead of drive thru Wendy's chili. I'm doing 1000 times better than I did before WLS, but they are right. Unless I change what I'm eating, the dramatic reduction in the quantity I'm eating will have only partial and temporary effect. I still have a lot of "I don't wanna" going on here. I don't wanna give up my high fat, high calorie foods. I already gave up volume! It isn't fair!!! Well, true. It isn't fair. Too bad. If I stay in this mindset I'm going to return to the high volume as well. My kids saw the food wrappers from Popeye's and Wendy's in my car garbage bag. Just like the old days. But but but I'm not eating as much and it's protein!!! Yeah. Right. I was surprised at how angry and how disappointed they were with me. I sat there defending my 100 pound weight loss. They weren't buying it. Both of them told me they saw me deluding myself right back to where I started. When they both came home from school, I had made a big Pasta dinner with dessert. Both of them yelled at me for bringing pasta and sweets into the house. But but but it's for you! Yeah, right. Both of them told me to cook for me, not for what I think they want. They didn't want the calories or sugar either. They both pointed out that I don't cook anymore. Which is true. I get takeout and eat weird pieced-together meals. They encouraged me to cook instead of takeout. Simple and obvious, right? But I have a million excuses why I need to grab fast food. My girls watched me get my life back last year, and it started with my surgery. They came with me when I left an abusive marriage and began the long battle of a divorce with their uncooperative and hostile father. They were really upset with me seeing me make crappy food choices after so much positive change. I'm still taking this in, but I realize this is the kick in the ass I need now. I cut my volume. I added exercise. Now I need to lose the fried and high fat and high calorie crap. I had mentally adjusted to this weight as if it was inevitable that I wouldn't be able to lose my remaining fifty pounds. Well, I can lose it. But it takes the next change to get there. A big change. I don't wanna. But I gotta. Man, they are a pain in my ass.

I hit Goodwill about every three weeks. I donate loose clothes and buy new ones that fit. Nothing in my closet from the old days anymore.

I'm so sorry about your pup.

And who can forget Ayds chocolate weight loss candy?

I think I ordered it or something and by the time it came the thrill was gone. I also joined Richard's "Slimmons" workout classes for one or two sessions. Oh and bought an oldies tape too. I didn't realize until just now how much of my money went to Richard Simmons.

Deal a Meal. Opened the box and never used it.

Woo hoo! That's inspiring. I'm signed up to walk my first 5k in July. I can't run anymore because my knees are shot, but I can walk!

Brilliant idea. I've actually started making the changes with lunches first. All week so far my lunches were brown bagged and healthy. My younger daughter got a summer internship at the company I work for, and we take lunch together. We've been going to the park close by and eating our lunch there. So that's been an immediate change. Dinner this week was better most days, but not every day. Progress, though. I feel better already.

Depression is real and I would never minimize it. But know that just a few short months from now, your life will improve so dramatically from losing weight that you may wonder why you waited so long to do WLS. Try to get outside each day for some fresh air and exercise. It gets better!!

Seven. Several were tiny.

I get you. I had a span of about a month when all I could think about was what plastic surgery could I get and how soon. I even asked a plastic surgeon at a support group meeting if I could get it before I reached goal. My insurance will change from excellent to crappy once my divorce is final. Talk about putting the cart before the horse. You are so right. If my head isn't okay with my new body before I choose plastics, it's a recipe for disaster. And contemplating surgery with fifty pounds left to lose? What the heck am I thinking? I will probably get a tummy tuck eventually. But not for at least a year. First I have the extra weight to lose. And then I need to work on my self image. Take a well deserved break.