heartfire

No, I totally get it. I'm doing the same thing myself. I really need to read and TAKE my own advice! :thumbup: I haven't wanted to post this either: DH works for the state and the good 'ol governor is looking at taking ANOTHER 5% of DH's paycheck. That would put us down a total of 15%. I don't want to do my job anymore but I can work from home and it gives us a couple of hundred bucks a month. Pretty soon that's going to be important! We're already tight, it's going to get tighter. I feel like I should go get another job but with DH's schedule and the fact that it's fire season, anything I get has to be when he's home b/c child care would take my paycheck. Impossible! No one in their right mind would hire me when I can't even tell them that I can for sure be there! So we tighten our belts even more and hope it all works out. NOW I'm getting off this computer! LOL!

Oh my gosh! I'm never going to get off this computer if y'all don't stop posting! LOL! But since it's GREAT news! Keep posting! LOL! This is sooooo exciting!!!! Okay Beth, I put you and Ebony ON MY CALENDAR for next Thursday! I am going to be saying prayers ALL DAY!!!!! And actually, since I'm on the west coast, I should probably START on Wednesday night! LOL! Good things are happening! Whoo Hoo! Okay, NOW I've got to go get lunch! LOL!

I know how to crochet ONE stitch! LOL! I vote you go home too! Does my vote count? LOL! WhooHoo! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy for you! And how cool that they are going to train you UP instead of just using you at a lower level?! Prayers that the back holds on for you! So glad I rechecked before logging off! Off to lunch! TTFN!

I just found this thread so I missed the Memorial Day part of the challenge! I've got to start checking our actual category more often. I don't always get to check the main "new posts" as much as I like and I end up missing a lot. Logged in to our weekly to say I regained 1.1 this week. I am SO frustrated! I went and looked at iCal, I enter in all of my Friday weights in there, only to discover that I've been bouncing the SAME 3 LBS for the last THREE MONTHS!!!!!!!!!! :tongue2: :thumbup: I'm terrified to even enter a goal for my bandiversary but I'm going to. I was really hoping to be near goal by then but that isn't going to happen. I was a slow loser before surgery and surgery hasn't seemed to really change that at all. Anyway. I'm going to shoot for the mid to low 170s by August. I would like to be 179 by July 4th. We'll see how it goes. I've been walking virtually every day. Either my 2.5 mile loop when I'm on my own, or my 1.5 mile loop with DD and DDog. Both work me pretty hard. I started logging my food again on daily plate. I have to or I snack all day. This way, it keeps me accountable. If I really want to eat it I do but I go log it in BEFORE I eat it! Sometimes it changes my mind for me! LOL!

I hate scales! LOL! I'm UP 1.1 darnit! I'm getting really sick of the low 180s! I'm feeling yucky, tired and bloated {sorry guys!} so I'm probably PMS'ing even tho I'm on Depo. I hope. Hopes for better next week. Have a wonderful week everyone!

Well, hell. This is going to be long! I just previewed this! Sorry! Oh wow! Congratulations! How does DS feel about all of this? That's why the fencing. This year it's a 10'x12' dog kennel that I'm using. Not pretty and it's right by the house but the deer shouldn't be trying to jump in to that. Too small of space. I'm envious of the greenhouse! Maybe someday! Congrats on your first veggies of the season!!!! I'm glad your friend is finally 'getting it.' I do know it hard on her but she's got to step up if she loves him and it sounds as if she does. Good for her! Isn't food GRAND?! LOL! Don't even get me started on 'coons! LOL! At our last place, we had a large deck on 2 sides of the house and I had potted plants and a huge 3 tiered waterfall. Came out one AM to find ALL of the plants uprooted and most of them in the waterfall. They were looking for grubs and washed all my plants! What a mess! I was SO pissed! Took me ALL day to clean it up and get what I could re-planted. Some of it was beyond even my help! Oh g4e, I'm so sorry for what you are going thru! Prayers and best wishes. I'd say have a good trip but this sounds like it's going to suck! So instead I'll say have a SAFE trip! Ebony, I'm so sorry. I just don't know what to tell you. I've always held low-end jobs and have never had to deal with garbage like this. My prayers are with you tho. Susan, I'm glad to hear that you and DH are on the same page again. And if giving up the house is what it takes to get you guys back on the right track, then give it up gladly and don't look back. Owning a house isn't always what it's all cracked up to be. It's a lot of work and expense! And it's not depressing if this is what's going to help you two be the best you can be as a couple! Hang in there. Prayers to you as well. Whoo Hoo!! Hopefully this is the one!! LOL! I don't think that's helping! :eek: Oh crap. Not you too! Hang in there, Mac! They do that at my mom's company too. All of a sudden, whoosh!, a whole department disappears. Or a good portion of it. Oh and b/c of the security, if you're let go, they have security standing by and when you get back to your desk, there are empty boxes waiting for you. Then security watches while you pack up your stuff, checking any papers you try to take out to make sure it's not company, then they escort you out taking your ID badge as you leave! Most times, the rest of the department doesn't know what's happening and you don't usually get to even say goodbye to anyone! It's pretty harsh! Tho I do understand the security issues. My mom's position isn't even going to exist this time next year. She'll probably retire about then but we'll see. ~~~~~ Now for some tough love: Beth and everyone else. I think you're all being too hard on yourselves. And this "my drama is trivial compared to your drama" is not productive. We ALL have issues that we're dealing with. Most of it is very scary for us and there doesn't seem to be any easy way out of it. I don't know, maybe there is never an easy way out! I'm so glad we're all here to support each other and be there for each other. It's a safe place to vent and we all need that! Prayers for all of us that we get thru and come out the other side much stronger than we ever have been! Okay. I'm done now! :biggrin: ~~~~~ Woke up to a bunch of rain! Almost an inch since the early morning hours. We were expecting t-storms but they don't usually produce much in the way of precip. Just a lot of lightening. Not this time! I hadn't planned on walking today b/c of the t-storms anyway. If it clears up later then maybe we'll go out. Cold too. I built fires in the wood stove and the fireplace! We shut the heater down last month! I'm tired and feeling yucky. Bloated too. Showed a gain this week, darnit!! Sometimes I really HATE the scale! I'm also having to force myself out for my walks, which is unusual. I'm just exhausted and don't know why. Sleeping all night too. Probably PMS, tho I'm on Depo, I still go thru the motions most months. This is probably about that time. :biggrin: Gotta go! DD is hungry... again! LOL!

Thanks. Good for you for getting back to the gym! Debbie, you're doing a great job! June, at least you got there! That's half the battle. The other half is making it a productive trip. Getting on the machines when you don't feel like it is doing pretty good! LOL! No sunshine here! Woke up to pouring rain and almost an inch of it since the early morning hours! T-storms predicted for the day/evening. No walk today. No way do I want to get out there with DD and dog and have the skies open up on us! YIKES!!! I was able to do my 2.5 mile loop on Wednesday and my 1.5 mile loop on Thursday BUT I'm having to force myself out there! Must be a "lack of motivation" bug out there! If the sky clears and the t-storms go away, I'll get out there again tomorrow for my 1.5 mile loop. Whether I want to or not! Have a great weekend everyone! TTFN!

Got busy with the b-day party prep and never got back here! Bought some great shoes at REI and spent a load of money on them too! Yikes! Guess I've just gotta suck it up every 6 months and do it! Feet feel loads better on my walks. I got all terrains for the different stuff I'm on with the hills. Much better! Was able to get out and walk my normal 1.5 loop on Thursday. Friday was able to get out there about 7:30 before anyone woke up for my 2.5 mile loop. Then Saturday, day of the party, couldn't sleep so I was up and out of the house just before 6AM!! That is unheard of for me! I am NOT a morning person! LOL! But I got out there and did my 2.5 mile loop. I actually took my time with it that day. I knew the day was going to be crazy and when I got home would be hitting the ground running so I took my time and enjoyed my walk and music. Got home a little after 7 and sure enough, got breakfast and off we went! It was a great day! Sunday I was toast so I didn't walk. I'd been on my feet ALL day Saturday and was hurting. Monday did a little different walk and went almost 2 miles. Today, I had too much to get done and just didn't have the time to get out for my walk. I'll get out there for sure tomorrow. If I'm up before DD, then I'll do the 2.5 mile loop, otherwise, we'll just do the 1.5 mile loop. We'll see. I hope everyone is doing well. Post up and let us know how you're doing. Whether it's good, bad or ugly! And if it's bad and ugly, let us help you!!!! Night all! Michelle

Tina, I'm so glad to hear you're doing so well! Sorry about the draining BUT you are drain FREE and that's good!! The sleeping WILL get better. The longer you go and further away from the incident you get, it will get better. [My mom's apartment was broken into and her dog terrorized. It took her awhile but she did get thru it.] Hang in there! Sorry about work. Sounds like a lot of people are having problems at work right now. :drool: Hope it gets better soon. Have fun!

Lu, you're going to have to sit down and have a serious talk with your BF. She has GOT to pull it together. It's all about her DH right now, not her. I realize she's devastated, I would be too BUT she's got to focus on DH and his health and welfare. Nothing else matters at this point. My FIL is in remission now from a rare form of Leukemia. He was doing great until his recent diagnosis of Parkinson's. He's 70 now. Whether she likes it or not, she is now a cancer caregiver. I'd encourage her to contact the American Cancer Society {I think at cancer.org} to find a support group near her. Best wishes and lots of prayers to all of you! AND you are a GREAT friend!!! Hang in there. And vent all ya need! We're here for you! Bummer about the one job, prayers something else comes thru soon! Major bummer that the boss is back in town! Too bad she didn't decide to stay away!! LOL!! Last time I did DH's resume I'm pretty sure I did a Word template. It's saved now and all I have to do is add the recent stuff. NO! Really??!! I would have NEVER known! :wub: Beautiful day today! Really cool. Supposed to be 70 for the high by Friday. They're talking rain by the weekend and snow in the higher elevations just above us! Welcome to June! LOL! Got the garden planted today. Not a big garden and it's a container garden til we know if it's going to stay there or not. I've got eggplant and artichoke, which I've never grown. Tomato and squash. I may go back and get a bell pepper plant. We're really not doing huge yet until we know for sure where the garden is going! Permanent garden will be raised beds with a nice fence. Right now I'm using our dog kennel fencing. Should keep the deer out... I hope! Last year they broke thru my fencing and ate our little garden just as everything was getting ready to be picked! I had an old clawfoot tub full of veggies and the deer had a veggie buffet! Have a great night!

Well said, BJean. I agree with you. I think she's pitiful and only going to ruin her children in the end. :wub:

Yep, it sucked! Don't want to do THAT again! LOL! The party was great! We had a lot of fun but it wiped me out! I'm still exhausted! LOL! Jenny, a PB is "puke back" or "productive burp." Yes, it's gross. After surgery you should be on all chewables and liquids for all of your supplements. My BP pill, I can't do that with. I'm supposed to crush it but I usually just cut it in to 4 pieces. It gets pretty small that way. It's not a large pill to begin with. THAT is the pill that I got stuck on. I was in a hurry and trying to rush. I was also eating, well, was going to be eating about 2 hours earlier than normal. Band was too tight that early in the AM and stuck I got. I then proceeded to throw up for the next 36 hrs every time I tried to get a little Fluid in me. I got to the point that I couldn't even swallow my own spit. Had to see Dr. B Monday evening after he'd been in surgery all day, for an unfill. It was bad and I don't wish that on anyone. Learned my lesson! I now make sure I cut that pill up every single time I'm going to take it! Now. I don't want that episode to scare you! Things like that shouldn't happen if you are following the rules and doing what you're supposed too! What happened to me was completely my fault and would never have happened if I was doing what I should have been. There will be times when you get stuck and have to PB or wait for something to pass but for the most part it's a pretty mild episode. Just go on liquids for the rest of the day to help the swelling and you should be fine. Have a great week, Ladies!!

Lu, I'm so sorry to hear about your friends. Prayers for all of you! Beth, I'm sorry for what you're going thru. I'll pray a job opens up ASAP!! Fanny, what a day! Have a blast and good wishes for the new job!! Mac, sounds great! Glad you had such a good time! I'll have to look the place up. I've not heard of it. [That certainly doesn't mean anything! LOL!] I'm still exhausted from the weekend! Gettin' too old for so much fun?! Naaaaa! LOL! Have a great night!

Fantastic! Thank you!

Thanks, Alex! That white background really freaks my eyes out! I can't even stay on. I have to get off the site ASAP or I'll end up with a migraine. Yikes!, is right!

Have fun, Fanny!!!! Mac, where'd you go? Was it great? I know I've missed a lot. Been crazy around here. Had DD's b-day party at the lake yesterday. It was a great day! So fun! DH's crew [DH is on vacation and normally works Saturday] brought the engine over and had lunch, at my insistence! Later, after lunch they opened up the engine and let everyone, yes, including the adults, play on it! It was a lot of fun! Now, I'm absolutely exhausted. Still! I hope everyone is doing well. Have a good night!

Last week: 184.4 This week: 182.3 Difference: -2.1 !!!!! WhooHoo! I discovered last Friday that I need to be tracking my food on a nearly daily basis. I'm eating just for the heck of it, even when I'm not hungry. Tracking keeps me accountable and makes me think twice about eating something. Even if I can't track that day. It's also helping me get more of my Water in. I was having a hard time with that too. So a nice loss for me b/c I tracked my food all week. Very happy about the loss but shocked to discover that I was eating mindlessly again and in reality, eating around my band. :wink: and The exercising is going well. I normally do 1.5 miles while pushing DD in her stroller, with the dog on her leash. When I can go by myself, there is another mile loop that I add for a total of 2.5 miles. Both are killer, all terrain and steep hills walking. The extra mile loop is even harder than the other that I do. Anyway, I've been trying to do the 2.5 mile loop a couple of times a week but can't always get it in if DH isn't home. This week I was able to go 2x. Happy, Happy! Congrats Tutornmom! WTG! Glad to see the scale move down again for you, Kristen! I know that was driving you nuts! Great job to all of our LOSERS!!! Have a great week!

I don't think it's crazy at all! Especially if you WANTED a dog to begin with! What a great walking partner AND a good motivator! Hang in there! Sounds like it IS going to work well for you once you get your body used to moving again! And congrats on the WL!!! I know, I'm headed to REI tomorrow. I'm starting to think that I'm almost more hiking than walking b/c of the terrain and hills. A lot of pounding on the heals going down hill, etc. They're all well-trained and pretty knowledgeable at REI and should be able to help me figure out what I actually need to be looking for. I'm thinking I might actually need a shoe/hiker hybrid. They kind of look like an aggressive athletic shoe but they have more support and cushioning. We'll see. My mom was saying that they have a Fleet Feet store near her in Sacramento and they measure things, watch how you walk and take in to account any foot, leg or back issues and recommend types of shoes, then give you lists of brands that have those types. Next time I go visit, we'll make some time to go and see what they say. I'm already realizing that even my daily stuff needs to be better quality [usually means more money!] than what I've been buying. I really DON'T want to have foot surgery! On another note. This AM was able to get out and walk. DH took my truck to the shop [tire balance and rotate] for me so I could still walk! Wasn't that nice? What a guy! Today is DD's 3rd b-day! We just got back from the movies. Saw Night at the Museum II. It was pretty good and I liked how it ended. I do like the first one better but I didn't find this a total waste of money. Especially since we went to the matinee showing! LOL! The rest of the week is going to get crazy. I'm hoping to still be able to get out for my walks but it's not looking good! We'll see. I know tomorrow's out b/c of the shopping trip to town but Thurs and Fri may still work. I'm hoping! Sat will probably be out. We'll need to be at the lake early [party starts at 11:30] to get set up and ready, so we'll see. Have a great day! I'll let you know what I find out tomorrow at REI!

Wow! What an ordeal! I'm so very sorry you had to go through all of that! I hope that everything heals well and you can get on with your life. I'm sure a lot got "interrupted" with all of this. Must have been horrible for you. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Best wishes to you and I hope you do well!

Bella, how did water aerobics go? Was it okay? I sure hope so. I just hear really good things about working in the water when you have pain. I'm really praying that this can be a viable alternative for you! Slim, hang in there! I know how you feel. I've been stuck for awhile now too. I started tracking my food intake again and was shocked to find I'm actually eating around my band! I'm eating when I'm not hungry and for no reason other than it's there. I was horrified. I know now that I must track my food regularly to keep myself in check. :smile: We didn't make it to church yesterday so I left DD and the dog at home with DH when he finally got in and took off for my extended walk (the 2.5 mile one) and really enjoyed it. Worked up a good sweat and actually didn't feel the need to collapse into a dripping heap when I got home! WhooHoo! Got out for my regular 1.5 mile walk with DH joining us this AM. That was nice, except he slows me down! LOL! I'm in some pain right now. I have bone spurs on the backs of both heals but the left one is HUGE and impedes with the Achilles Tendon. I get flare-ups and am in one now. I'm wearing cruddy shoes for my walks. I buy inexpensive walkers for normal, daily wear and since I've started walking, haven't gone and bought GOOD shoes for this. I'm paying for it now. I'm still walking anyway b/c it actually works it out and feels better for awhile. It's getting up in the AM or after sitting for awhile that becomes a problem! My next major expenditure is going to be a good pair of shoes for my walks. We're headed to the city this week for the major b-day party shopping and so I'm hoping we can fit that in. We'll see. I hope everyone had a great weekend! Take care!

Thanks, Beth. I haven't been measuring. I should but I just never get around to it. But I have noticed things fitting better/differently. I've also noticed that my endurance is better. I don't get out of breath so easy and can go farther, faster, etc. I did re-start tracking my food again. :eek: I had gotten mindless about it and guess what I discovered, much to my horror, b/c I said I'd never do this? I've been eating around my band. I will eat when I'm not hungry and really for no reason. I'm just grabbing a handful of whatever and going on my way. I actually sat and cried. I'm really upset about it. I've been tracking for 3 days. The first day I went over my calories for the day but not bad BUT this is also after a fill on Friday so was moderate compared to what I was doing before my fill. Sunday I really paid attention to what I was doing and this AM was down 2lbs. I also got all of my water in yesterday for the first time in awhile. We'll see how the week plays out and what Friday's official number will be but this was definitely a wake up call for me. I am now one who can not go without regularly tracking my intake of food! :smile: Sounds like FUN! [seriously! I really mean that!] Sure hope you recover soon tho! How'd the bike ride go? Sounds like a wonderful day, hope it was! g4e, sorry for what you are going thru. Prayers! And you're right, the best thing you can do right now is be there for the grandkids as much as possible. Hang in there and stay out of the kitchen! I know how hard that is! Take care! Pretty quiet weekend. It's going to be a busy week with DD's b-day tomorrow and her party on Sat. Should be fun tho! And the weather is supposed to be nice too. Bonus! Have a great night everyone!

Hi Carrie! No you're not missing anything. It's kind of bad terminology to say the "band" gets plugged up. What we mean is the opening between the pouch and the stomach, at the band placement gets plugged up. Your pouch fills up with mucus and at some point actually gets thick enough and stops draining through to the larger part of the stomach. Especially if you have pretty good restriction. And yes, it's pretty gross. Unfortunately. :smile:

SO glad you were able to get some tea and food down! Hooray! I forgot about Mucinex b/c I've only bought it in pill form. Didn't know it came in liquid form. I'll have to look for it. I've always liked that stuff. It's always worked best for me. Take care and feel better soon! Oh and glad you decided to stick around! Welcome!!

Make sure you find out what your lifting restriction is! Mine was 10lbs for 6 weeks! That's a gallon of milk! My DD was just past 2 when I had my surgery. We talked about it ahead of time and I asked her if she would help mama. Of course she say yes! I weaned her off of falling asleep on me for naps and bedtime well before surgery. We'd already taken her side rail off her crib MONTHS before b/c she was too tall, so that wasn't a problem. She climbed on to my bed for diaper changes and dressing/undressing. If she wanted a hug, I sat down. If she wanted me to pick her up, we sat down and cuddled instead. She did great! Also, I had a small child's sleeping pillow (got it at babies r us) that I used to put over my stomach. I used this pillow for when ever DD was on my lap or snuggling with me, to sleep with in case DH or DD (when she'd sneak in to bed with us) got near my stomach and it also reminded me to carefully turn over when changing sleeping positions. I also used this pillow in the car to cushion from the seatbelt! And sometimes I'd even sit with it on my stomach just b/c it felt good to hold it there! I didn't have to worry about even ME accidentally bumping something! LOL! You'll figure it out as you go. If you can make a few changes now, that will help. Best wishes!

Very good article. I have to agree with what you have said. makes a lot of sense.