pizzicato66

Salsa, I bet you got your calories in this weekend, if you didn't burn them off in "other" mroe celebratory exercise (sorry couldn't resist - hee hee)! I did my catch up logging this morning for the weekend, and it seems like I'm right around 1200 to 1500 every day. I managed to get an adjustment scheduled for Thursday so that should guarantee a few lbs off this week. Nothing like a few days of Soup and a sore tummy to get you in gear! Gimme ONEderland, baby!!

Hey Rumar - good to see you back! Congrats on hitting the 18s! It's a great feeling, isn't it! Don't be a stranger now!

Hang in there- the right situation will happen!!

Thanks everyone! I posted the 80 lbs a little early, because I switched to my own scale instead of the work scale (assuming I WILL be away from here soon). It's probably more accurate anyway, since I can weigh "au naturale" but I've always enjoyed using the old-fashioned balance scale at work. However, this morning I did make the same weight on the work scale, so it is official! I would LOVE to get to Onederland before I'm done here so that gives me 2 lbs and 6 lbs, which seems entirely do-able if I stick to the basics. It would be SOOO cool to move that 50 lb weight over a notch again!

Girl, you're MARRIED!! Congratulations! I can't get over how nonchalant you seem about it, but it sounds like you had a wonderful time. I did the ULC ordination years ago myself but never did anything with it (just amused that I can call myself the "Reverend Donna." Your dad sounds like a ton of fun!!! Again, congratulations! It's been a BIG year for you, young lady! Sorry to hear the PS consult was troubling. What did they think made your situation risky - just the surgery and the geography, or are there other complications? Be patient, and hopefully staying with your SIL will make the difference in your approval. The right situation will happen soon! As for me, I did get in a few laps at the dog park yesterday, and I did what will probably (hopefully) be my last performance with my dance class (see the in progress photo I posted this weekend). I just haven't had any focus on learning the choreography, but I was able to "follow the bouncing butt" and did pretty well! I have a few names from my teacher and some other dancers, so I can pick up classes in San Diego if, I mean WHEN I get settled in, if I don't take up a different activity, like boogie boarding, getting back into making pottery or teaching my dog how to swim in the surf! I have a feeling a good part of my free time will be taken up exploring a new city soon (I'm really hoping hard), walking around a new neighborhood, walking beaches, etc. There's nothing more inspiring to be active than a whole new city and climate!! Anyway, I digress - congratulations again, girl!!

Yes, I'm doing a photo in belly dance costume again, but that seems to be when the pictures happen. If I have this figured out, I'll also post a before pic from about 6 months before surgery (somewhere in the 280's). Here I am, 80 lbs gone!

I talked to the recruiters last night and they said it's just a matter of HR approving the offer and I should hear something today or Monday! Apparently the manager kept lobbying for me this entire time, and they had another candidate that was local and was asking less salary, BUT, he didn't have the certification that I just went out and got, so I'd say that was $700 well-spent! It's just a tad premature, but I figure it's relatively safe to start some of the planning, getting mover estimates, etc. since if it all goes through, I'll be there by the end of the month! Terrified and excited all at once - it's like being on the edge of the high-dive!

Wow! I can't really add to the wisdom already posted, but I do really feel for you and hope you'll soon be back with us. Hang in there!

Thanks! I'm getting closer and closer... I'm a HUGE immediate gratification junkie so this has been a REAL lesson in patience for me. Hopefully I'll get that offer and then I can start obsessively planning the big move! I can't pack anything else unless I give up on dishes and sheets at this point! :bolt:

Just a quick update. I'm still waiting on the job in San Diego. I did go and get a certification they were looking for and it seems to have gotten the wheels turning again. The manager I want to work with has put in a funding request to hire. I'm not sure what that means - if he's just going to post the job again, or if he's getting funding to hire ME, but there's a light in the tunnel again. I probably won't hear until tomorrow at the earliest or sometime next week, but I'm getting VERY hyper about all this! What a roller coaster, huh?

Good info! So, is everyone doing their surgery in the US now, or are you still considering surgeons outside the US? I'm still curious about what "boards" etc they have in other countries and how thorough their records and training requirements are. Has anyone researched it? If I wind up in San Diego, it would be a consideration to save money going to MX, if I felt I knew enough about their safety standards (not just what the docs say about themselves).

Salsa, you RAN!!!!! That's outstanding! A mile each way, no less - you ran TWO MILES! I'd say that counts as a workout m'dear. SOOOOOOOOOOOO proud of you!!!

Okay, back to the topic today - I'm jumping off the therapy couch - thanks again for the great suggestions yesterday! I logged for yesterday and came out around 1200 calories, so I still want to trim things back a bit but I'm getting closer, at least! How is everyone else doing?

Karri, you are completely right! I am not in the least offended and agree completely. I like the written exercise idea and I'm going to do that homework! I do that kind of thing to tackle other stuff in my life (and it's the kind of thing I do for a living), so that's right up my alley. Thanks!!!

Thanks for the feedback! I can't say I exercised last night to burn it off, but as you said, it's in the past and stressing won't help. What I may need to do is plan things with her that aren't at her house, so we just get together and do something, rather than eat. It will get easier soon, once her pool is open for the summer. Or, I need to just need to not eat at her house once I'm there. The real irony of my relationship with her is that we have an opposite effect on each other. When she lived with me last year, she lost 60 lbs and I GAINED 30 lbs! I figured out that it was because 1 - I cooked meals so she was eating less processed and carry-out, and 2. she eat less and moved more around me. Meanwhile, I actually ate more and was less active when I was with her (I was slowing down to her pace). I have to say part of the reason I'm considering the big move to CA is that I want to feel less responsible for her (I'm her primary source for social interaction at this point, since my brother doesn't do as much with her). Sounds selfish, but I think it's actually healthier for me, at least for now. I also just want a fresh start in a new place with a new way of living. I know I'm not leaving my "issues" behind if I go, but I think it would be easier for me right now. BTW, thanks for letting me spill my guts out here today. Did I scare ya? :-)

Okay, that book is TOO funny! I love that it was right next to Bikini Bootcamp too! :-) I can only claim belly dancing - is that close enough?

I logged like a good girl. Resisting the carbey/sugary stuff is still a problem for me, but I logged what I ate to make sure I saw the result, and I came in at just under 1500 calories again. I guess I'll do fine once I get to maintenance phase, but I need to get there first! I'm starting to think I can't hang out at my sister's house or I need to come up with a gameplan when I go there. dinner was exactly what I should eat (steak with a small serving of veggies), but I dug in before dinner on some tortilla chips (1 oz), and my sister made herself gluten-free brownies and I had TWO (d*mmit). It's all starting to feel rather codependent. Here's the thing that hit it home for me. We were going down to the basement TV room to watch a movie, and I'm walking behind her, watching her struggle one step at a time and trying to move a box down the steps behind her, because she needed one hand for her brownie and the other hand to alternate between the handrail and moving the box. I helped out by taking the box for her, but I had to watch her struggle down the stairs one step at a time, and then listen to her try and catch her breath for several minutes. It reminded me that this is one of the biggest reasons I chose surgery in the first place. I could see myself going down the same path as my elder sister, and I didn't want to be in so much pain and immobilized by my weight as she is. It was a real eye opener. Here's the thing that really makes me feel like it's an f'ed up situation. I still ate the brownie, enjoyed it, and when she made a trip up later and came back with another brownie she thought was small (it was almost 4 inches square), I ate that one too. So, I'm throwing it out to you all for advice. How do I get my inspiration back and get my eating back on plan? How do I deal with being around my sister and not slip into the codependency? Are any of you running into this? I feel like I know what I have to do, but I need help getting the mind-shift in place so I can be firm about it. Help!

Jodi, did you try SF carnation Instant Breakfast? It's a nice option and fills you up pretty well for breakfasts without adding any sugar. Karri, hang in there- hopefully your band will relax a tad more over time (mine usually does but it takes a few weeks after an adjustment). Had a VERRRY tasty roast pork dinner from the cafeteria today with a teeny bit of grilled squash and nice sauce. Happy tummy and on-plan! :-)

Okay, I'm logged for yesterday and came out lower than I thought I would, right around 1200 calories. I'm striving for better today (ideally want to get back to around 900-1000 calories to kick things back into gear). So far, just had a SF instant breakfast/milk and my usual skinny latte, so we'll see if I can make it all day on plan. My goal is to get back to the basic eating plan from the clinic, since it worked so well for me: 3 meals of 3-4 oz. dense Protein with some veg, 3 milk Snacks a day. It will give me a better idea of whether I need a fill or not too (hard to tell if I'm just eating whatever sounds good regardless of portion or nutrition). As of this morning, my bum is firmly planted in the "wagon"!! How's everyone else doing? Maintenance girls, are you doing your selected plan?

Talk about taking the good eating habits to heart - look at you! I need to get back to fearing food more. I did better when I was afraid things would make me sick, but almost everything goes right down for me if I pace myself, and I've gotten to the point that I'll eat till uncomfortable. Not healthy, and I need to get my brain back in the right place. Just not sure what will do it for me. Good for you though!

Go Pammy! You look terrific!

Go Daddy! What a loss for 4 months! I'm in awe of you. I got in an hour at the dog park both days this weekend and have been getting out there nearly every night for a walk with the pup. I'll get more miles in there once the mud dries up (may be awhile after the snowstorm today, d*mmit!). Oh, and I had a dance rehearsal too, so that added a bit more to the tally. Nice work, everyone!

I'm here! I just haven't commented in a couple days. I went in and updated logs for the weekend this morning the best I could remember (Calorie King was acting up this weekend when I tried to log from home). Learning for the week - it's the fat and carbs slipping in that are pushing my calories up - hence, I'm hovering at 208 again this morning. I need that log floating in front of my face when I make food choices, darnit! Most of the day I do just fine, and then I'll make ONE bad food choice that blows the calories over the top so I'm between 1500 and 1900 cals a day. Apparently I've got the maintenance diet figured out since I'm sitting at the same darned spot again this week. Problem is, I'm not in maintenance yet!! Salsa, maybe you and I should swap eating plans. I recommend Peanut Butter (just kidding). At least I got good walks in both days this weekend at the dog park!

Good job guys! The more the merrier, I say! I need to update my log now. I can't say I've been as good about it as others but I'm getting there, and my awareness is way up when I'm pondering what to eat (that's a big part of what I wanted to achieve). Today's confession - I went to a Chinese buffet last night. The good news is a small plate was enough, even if there were some high-fat choices on the plate. Much better than a year ago! Keep up the good work, team!

It's amazing how bonded you can get with people you have never and may never meet, isn't it? Glad you're feelin' the looooooooooove! :-)