pizzicato66

yay!! I'm still sporting plus pants (16w's) but they're getting baggy, and it seems like the "normal" sizes tend to be snug in the hips/thighs but loose in the waist. Hopefully my next jaunt trying on clothes will be more in the land of the Misses. Nice work you all!

Hi Everyone - I'm BACK! Sorry I haven't posted in 2 weeks (at least!) but it's been a busy time! Bungee, my aunt and I made it safely to La Jolla, and I finished my first week on the job. It's all really going very well, and we're settling in nicely (probably even more once the movers finally deliver my stuff). But I digress... Now that we're in this lovely seaside neighborhood, poochie and I are having a great time with walks morning and night. It's not speed walking by any means (or jogging like the amazing Salsa - go girl!), but we do get a short walk in every morning by the sea (with stops to watch the baby seals and surfers), and a nice long walk in every night. Bungee loves it because all the tourists and locals alike stop to pet him, share their gelato and hand out doggie treats. He's getting pretty spoiled and loves every minute of it! A lot of the stores nearby let dogs in too, so it can be fun if we're strolling for fun. In the long run, it means we are out wandering a LOT, even if we're not pushing hard. I have no idea if I've lost since the scale is on a truck somewhere between MN and CA, but things feel looser, and I definitely feel a workout in my legs and bum when we're up and down all the stairs and hills around here (as well as the weekend romps at the dog beaches). We haven't made a lot of friends yet but are definitely socializing and enjoying our new home. Yay!! Anyway, it's great to see you're all doing so well - keep up the great work!

Well, i'm a week into this latest fill and I'm starting to wonder if I'm too restricted right now. I'm not PB'ing, but I'm getting at least a little stuck from just about everything right now (even yogurt or scrambled eggs). I'm wondering if this is the first time I've ever really been restricted, or if it's too much. No PB's or thowing up, thank goodness, but I definitely feel everything that goes down! I'm going to give it the weekend to see how I feel and then go in for an unfill if I need it. I don't want to take any chances with needing to go in once I get out to CA, since I haven't worked out the insurance or doc stuff yet! Hopefully I'll be able to get in at UCSD, since they're a center of excellence, and hopefully the new insurance will cover fills. Good thing I'm past the 6 month mark so I won't need to go in as often!

Hey Gang, Since I seem to be at a motivational lull lately, I thought I'd get really basic to get things rolling again. Would any of you be interested in a food log challenge? You don't have to post what you ate here (although it would be welcome of course), but you have to commit to logging it somewhere (I use CalorieKing - Diet and weight loss. Calorie Counter and more.) and report in whether you did it or not each day. It's a great way to get better awareness of what's going in and how you're doing nutritionally each day. It definitely makes you think twice before putting things in your mouth - or opens your eyes afterwards, which can be even more helpful when getting back on track! So far, I logged everything yesterday (well over 1100 calories and far too much fat from that darned corned beef, btw), and have put everything in that I ate so far today (doing well so far). Anyone else interested?

I'd say that counts as logging - you're just doing it in advance! I hear you about being cold too. I find myself hovering near the fireplace all the time now to toast my bum, or buried in quilts. The weather's pretty mild in La Jolla all the time, but that sun feels REALLY good! They're predicting rain and possibly SNOW this weekend, so I'm ready to go!!

Way to go, Salsa! I'm sure you'll do swimmingly - or is it runningly? :-) I haven't been logging this week, and I may log a little now and then, but I'm not going to require myself until I'm settled in to my new city and new life next week! I figure I have plenty of lists and things to keep track of without monitoring what I eat! How's everyone else doing?

Hey all - sorry it took me so long to respond again, but I've been pretty busy getting ready to move. I leave Sunday - wow!! I had the worst round of PB's ever on Sunday, while driving on a strange freeway, no less. Thankfully I was able to find an offramp and pull over till things calmed down, but I was sore the rest of the weekend. I don't want to take any chances (especially since I'll have 2 months with no insurance coverage on the new job), so I got a slight unfill (from 7.2 to 6.4). I feel MUCH better and can eat normal food already without discomfort, and still have restriction, so I think we may have found the sweet spot. I was going through a nasty bout of nerves over the move too, and I'm feeling a lot better now that my job offer is FINALLY official, I found my new place to live, and I figured out how to manage the finances for the next month. Everything is finally falling into place, and I'm excited! We're having some family time this weekend, and then my aunt, Poochie dearest and I are taking off early Sunday morning for the big drive out. My aunt is staying with me till the 6th, so we will have a good week to drive out, settle into the new apartment and have some fun exploring. I can't wait now!!

Yay - a picture of Frangi! You look AMAZING! Sorry I didn't check it out sooner, but I've been a tad distracted this week. I'll have to get a nice in progress pic of myself in my new nifty neighborhood once I get there NEXT WEEK - can you believe it?! :-)

Holy Smokes! You're a brave girl. Hang in there!

Hey All, Not much to post for excercise although I did quite a bit of beach-strolling this weekend next door to my NEW PLACE! Yep, I rented a place in La Jolla, right on the cove and a block from children's beach. How cool is that?!?! You can see the pictures at: La Jolla Home! - a set on Flickr No stalking me now! :-)

Okay, I'm updating my weight so here's the latest: Name: Frangipani Weight loss from day of surgery: 91 lbs Total weight loss: 97 lbs Name: Candle Weight loss from day of surgery: 93 lbs Total weight loss: 107 lbs Name: Salsa Weight loss from day of surgery: 93.5 lbs Total weight loss: 93.5 lbs Name: Pammycakes Weight loss from day of surgery: 94 lbs Total weight loss: 96 lbs Name: Ceradad Weight loss from day of surgery: 85 Total weight loss: 105 Name: KarenG. Weight loss from day of surgery: 85 Total weight loss: 85 Name: NanaRenan Weight loss from day of surgery: 52 Total weight loss: 72 Name: TexasBecky Weight loss from day of surgery: 98 Total weight loss: 108 Name: SPEBSQSAlady Weight loss from day of surgery: 57.8 Total weight loss: 57.8 Name: Brandottie01 Weight loss from day of surgery: 23 lbs Total weight loss: Name: Bergdorfblonde Weight loss from day of surgery: 32 lbs Total weight loss: 32 lbs Name: Gometros Weight loss from day of surgery: 52.9 lbs Total weight loss: 74.9 Name: Pizzicato66 Weight loss from day of surgery: 71.5 Total weight loss: 83.5 Name: Valstar Weight loss from day of surgery: 52 lbs Total weight loss: 57 lbs Name:Gweniper weight loss from day of surgery: 50 total weight loss: 84 Name: purplegirl1818 weightloss from day of surgery: 73.5lbs total weight loss: 90.5lbs Name: LessNLess weightloss from day of surgery: 56lbs total weight loss: 62lbs Name: JudiM weightloss from day of surgery: 62lbs total weight loss: ?? Name: hf2havefun Weight loss from day of surgery: 35 lbs Total weight loss: 50 lbs Name: Nikki S Weight loss from day of surgery: 102 Total weight loss: 102 __________________ Has anyone done a grand total yet? I might tackle it...

Okay, this has been on my mind for awhile, so I'm curious to hear about your perspectives. - How did you pick your weight loss goal? - Do you have the same goal you did when you started? - Did you go with the weight suggested by your clinic, or pick something higher or lower, and if so, why? For me, I went with 180, because it was a weight where I last felt really comfortable with myself (although I wasn't quite where I ultimately wanted to be), because it was below 200 (ooh - aah!!!) , and it was right around the recommended range from the clinic (as far as what they said on average people can lose with a band). BUT, part of me has always wanted to be in the 160's eventually, so I keep that as a "holy grail" of sorts. Bottom line (bad pun, unintended), I want to eventually be where I'm comfortable, feel good about how I look and someplace where I can maintain easily. Of course now, you've all got me considering plastics, but I'm not close enough to goal to know what, if anything I should consider. I imagine that could have an impact on my end weight too! SO, tell me about your choices!!

awwww... shucks, ma'am! :-)

logs are all caught up again. Not sure if i'll ever get that lost data back, but it's not that important anyway. Time to check in, gang - Is everyone logging, or not logging, as the case may be?!?

Nothing like paying ahead to make sure you use a membership! Good for you, Judi and Becki - you'll appreciate it in the long run, even if it sucks at the moment. Salsa, you rock! can't wait to see the post when you do that marathon! I got my 3 laps in at the dog park last night (the trails are finally dry - yay!). We'll go tonight unless it's raining too hard, and then I'm off to San Diego for the weekend of apartment-hunting! One place is literally across the street from LaJolla beach - what a great place to walk the pooch every morning!!

I LOVE It! Thanks for sharing!

Great job, everyone! Salsa, I'm in awe!!!!! Will you do a race now?

thanks for sharing! I wish I could try those naugh-teas, but half a glass of wine knocks me out these days! Maybe to Celebrate the new residence after the move, huh? :-) Started logging again this morning- hopefully the website I'm using won't lose my entries again! Still feeling really restricted but I want to stick with it and see how it goes.

By the way, what goes into your wonder-chais?

Hey Ms. Judy. Good to see you here! Hard to see if 1200 cals will "do it" for you, since everyone's different, but the government charts give that as the minimum, so it must be, right? Just caught up on your blog. I love your writing! ... and yes, I'd have smacked that guy for giving you grief. Or, just turn your back on him and be done.

So, does it count as food logging if the website you use loses your entries for the past 2 days - argh!!! I sent the site a bug report, and of course they replied with asking what browser I'm using, and whether I'm behind a firewall. I responded that it happened at home and at work, gave them the info they wanted and suggested that it looked like they'd done a database restore that's at least 2 days old (and told them that I'm an IT professional). Pet peeve - reporting problems to support people that have less IT experience than I do. I guess it's just part of being in the line of work I'm in (and have been for 10 years). I'm not THAT techy, but sheesh! At least I'm still really restricted, so the weight is coming off slowly (another half lb today). 4 lbs will put me half a lb into ONEderland! It makes the logging a little less important. I threw away or donated anything that's even slightly naughty in my kitchen too. Knowing it all has to be gone in just over a week makes cleaning out the cupboards really easy! Meanwhile, I've packed almost everything that has to be taken care of before I move, so I was actually bored last night! Thank goodness there was a new episode of The Tudors on to get me to bedtime. All I have to do is inventory, shrink-wrap and label the tubs in the garage (there are 6), get my brother to pick up the canoe and some other things that are going to family, and then pack the items for the car, and I'm ready for the movers. Hopefully I'll rent a place this weekend in SD, and then I can get the logistics done (utilities, mover scheduled, etc). I'm almost too prepared at this point! Enough off-topic chat. How are you all doing this week?

I'll own that one too! That belly flap CAN be a helpful thing! I'd prefer to just learn how to keep a napkin in place by balance though!

Got my dog park walking in last night and over the weekend. It's nearly dried up out there now so walking is a LOT easier (less squishing through mud and puddles). Once the mover is done doing an estimate tonight poochie and I will head out there again. It's 70 but WINDY today so I should be able to burn off energy pushing against that wind.

Thanks everyone! I'm lovin' the dancing bananas and balloons!!! :-) Westcoast guy (I refuse to call you the other word), it's good to hear there are others in SD I can get to know! What doc do you work with? I'll be looking for a good one to handle my ongoing fills/care. Hopefully my new insurance will cover them!

Well, it's semi-official. I accepted an offer with the new job in San Diego!!!!!!!!!!! It all depends on getting the background check done of course, (I'll give official notice on my current job once that's done) but I'd say things are relatively optimistic in the job arena! Let's just hope credit ratings don't come into play too much, as mine's been a tad spotty. I'm hoping for the best though. So, I'll be flying out next weekend to find a place, and on my way by the end of the month. Woweee, am I wound up!! :confused: :eek: :eek: