MIZ60

Day 10: Went to brunch again this morning and able to ride the motorcycle since it was a gorgeous day. Those dang mimosas got me again 🙄 but after the second one I felt a little queasy so just drank water the rest of the time. Another football get together tonight and my friend has made a huge pot of chili so that will be fine. What are you most grateful for in your childhood? I was the oldest and my parents were pretty strict with me in terms of doing well in school, household responsibilities and being respectful to everyone. There was no talking back or not doing what was expected of me. I think this enabled me to grow up to be responsible and have a successful career. I watch how some kids are allowed to treat their parents and behave in general and it really concerns me what kind of person are they going to grow up to be. So much disrespect everywhere....

To the B-side question: My husband is my biggest supporter and our relationship has been mostly good during this process. He constantly tells me how good I look and feel to him and walks with me daily. He makes sure he does not bring any bad stuff in the house....although I did find a huge bag of peanut M&Ms in the console of his truck but he never eats them if I am with him. He has never had a weight problem....

Day 9: I am doing fine on the food part of this challenge but continue to indulge in more alcohol than I should if I want to be losing. No idea why this is so hard for me. I really do not generally feel any type of food temptations since I do not keep anything here that is bad or off plan. But the vodka and tequila though..... The place that I have the most fond memories of traveling to is Lake Tahoe. I learned to snow ski there in the late 1980s and we spent a week there every year for about 20 years. Haven't been able to go since about 2002 but actually talking about going back this year. It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen and my only real experience being around massive snowfall.

I had several jumpsuits that I wore going out in the 70's-----it was a huge PITA to have to use a public restroom especially because I always wore pantyhose underneath them to avoid VPLs. So much to hold on to, pull down and keep from touching the floor. And, of course, you have to go more often when you are out dancing and drinking....I think they are cute now but not for me.

That is so true....I have left my flip flops out just in case....

Day 8: The life lesson I am most grateful to have learned is that it is never too late to take action to change the path and course of your life. Three years ago I was in bad physical shape, depressed and unable to do hardly anything. I thought at age 59 I was too old for things to improve. I am so grateful that I was wrong and that I was able to make positive changes and am now much healthier and happier. I now look forward to the future where I used to dread getting up every day.

Well it is more than I thought...not pictured are my (ugly) clunky motorcycle boots, hiking boots and Sorel snow boots. In my defense, 3 pairs are pretty much only worn when we are riding the motorcycle. I needed to get them all out of their boxes since winter has finally showed up here.

Amazing outfit and you look HAWT!! I love all types of boots too and have 9 pair at the moment...

You look FABULOUS in that outfit and you likely need it if the cold front hit Oklahoma like it did Texas. I had to buy a down coat yesterday since I donated all my too big coats at the end of last winter.

Day 7: What book am I most grateful for? I had to give this a lot of thought since I have been an active reader for my whole life. I was the pasty white kid who stayed inside all summer reading books because I just love to read. There is one book I have kept on my nightstand since it was published and it is called "Healing Hearts" by Dr. Hisashi Nikaidoh. I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Nikaidoh for about 10 years at a children's hospital--he is a pediatric heart surgeon and one of the most amazing doctors I have ever worked with. He wrote the book about some of his experiences as a surgeon after losing his physician son in a tragic accident. Some of the families he writes about are people that I knew and worked with. Working with him and many others at the start of my career really shaped me as a nurse and nurse practitioner. When I read it even now it reminds me of how fortunate I have been to spend my career taking care of other peoples' children. I have definitely received so much in return from these amazing kids and their families.

Day 6: Finally had a good day yesterday with no foods eaten that are on the list, a 2.5 mile walk in the park and NO ALCOHOL!! No walking today due to several appointments and going out to see a band and have dinner tonight. It has been up in the high 70's/low 80's the past few days after dipping down to 29 over the weekend. Just enough to kill my beautiful hibiscus plants. The thing in nature that I am most thankful for is the beautiful Texas sunsets....I took this off our back patio a few years back...

Tell Mr. F. you are welcome from me!!

Soooooo, I just found this on Amazon....cardio-rama in this baby!! It is strategically altered (aka as crotchless) so you can keep it on.

Day 5: Had a great time watching my Cowboys win last night and did pretty good at the party except for a few homemade potato chips (I know) and trying some Deep Eddy orange vodka which is made right up the road from us in Austin. Had my therapy appt. this morning and getting ready for our walk. What item in my home and I most grateful for? Of course it would have to be our sweet miniature schnauzer Bella who just turned 10 on Friday. She is such a good girl and I love her very much. In terms of material possessions there are many I am grateful for but I am most grateful for all my favorite framed pictures I have in every room. Always makes me happy to look back on family, friends, vacations, etc. when I look at them. Conservatively, there are at least 40 of them. B-Side Question: Anyone/thing pushes your buttons too easily I have zero patience and get very irritated with bad/distracted driving and it is only getting worse. Such stupidity and lack of responsibility. We have lost several friends from our motorcycle community to stupid driving and it really pushes my buttons when we are on the bike and I see some idiot unable to maintain lane position or use signals because they are talking/texting. Grrrrr.... Plus since central Texas is such a hotspot for people to want to move here the traffic seems to get worse weekly. I know I need to chill out a bit about this.... My husband also gets on my last nerve sometimes due to general laziness and lack of motivation to do anything other than TV and YouTube. Yes, I know he is 67 and retired but dammit he needs to get off his a$$ and do something more productive. Our 35 year anniversary is next month assuming we make it until then😂🤣😂

I use riced cauliflower in soups and stir frys and it is sooo tasty. Have made myself but it is so messy that I just buy the frozen type. I also steam some regular cauliflower until soft and use the food processor to make garlic mashed cauliflower with real butter and it is SOOO good.

Day 4: The memory I am most grateful for is being able to be with my mom 24/7 during the last few days of her life while she was on hospice care. She passed away 19 years ago at the age of 65 from horrible metastatic cancer. I know it made her more comfortable that I was there. At the time, we lived across the country but I was able to take time off of work to make sure I was there. I would not trade those memories for anything. Well we are going to a football get together with our tribe tonight (GO COWBOYS) but I am taking some stuff that is fine for me to eat and my one friend is making delicious ceviche. Plenty of grilled stuff too. I am sure I will have a bit of tequila but it will be as little as possible.

Well, of course we went to brunch this morning in Leander because our musician friends were playing....I did pretty well avoiding the things on the list except OF COURSE there were complimentary mimosas so you know I had to enjoy a few. I just can't win.... I also had 2 small bites of husbands cheesecake but avoided all the muffins, pastries, etc. The food I am most grateful for is (don't laugh) CAULIFLOWER because it is so versatile and I eat it in some form almost every day. I especially love the sandwich thins I get from Outer Aisle. As far as negativity, I am my own harshest critic. I get really down on myself because I should have lost a lot more weight and be at or near my goal by now. I have recently started seeing a therapist and she is helping me be kinder and more gentle with myself.

Okay, so I am going to try this. Sorry to be one day late. !. My personal goal for this challenge is to lose as much as possible over the next month. Since I almost never eat any of the stuff on the list I will have no trouble for the most part avoiding those items. However, I do need to focus on my nemesis which is alcohol. My goal for the month is to not drink alcohol on at least 10 of the days, and limit myself to 4 ounces of alcohol on other occasions. This sounds lame but I am trying to be realistic. 2. VSG 5/2/2018. While I have not met my goal. I have maintained my current weight for about 9 months. 3. CW: 212.8, BMI 34.3 4. I am most grateful that I feel great and am able to enjoy my life with my husband, family and friends. As far as technology, I am most grateful for social media since I have been able to reconnect with so many people that I had lost touch with over the years. High school friends, cousins, former patients and parents that I have cared for over the years and nurses that I have worked with over the past 37 years. It is truly amazing.

I feel your pain. I quit cigs on 09/20/09 after 31 years of slightly less than a pack a day smoking. I took Chantix to help me and it really did. I have been tempted a few times to pick one up but knowing my addictive nature I have been too afraid that I would immediately get hooked. Same reason I have never tried any illegal drugs. It sounds like you are on the right track and have plenty of motivation and support. Good luck and just say N.O.P.E.---not one puff ever!!

No advice on the meeting new people thing but it is fairly easy in Texas to go after your baby daddy for child support just using the attorney general's office....Texas is pretty hard on deadbeats so maybe you can get it without spending a lot on an attorney. Best of luck to you.

I used these in a longer size when I had my titanium clavicle installed in 2014 and you have to really look closely to see the 6 inch scar. I did not bother with the tiny incisions from my sleeve and they are barely noticeable now. No one besides me and the Mr. sees them anyway. My tummy baring days are long past😂🤣 I left them on 24/7 except to shower and they wash easily with mild soap and the stickiness comes back right away.

I think what you mix alcohol with also makes a difference. About 3 1/2 months out I tried a prickly pear margarita when we were on vacation in Santa Fe. Literally one sip and I felt hot and nauseated so I put it aside. We then ate and I tried again after 30 minutes with the same result. Now, I only drink tequila over ice, bourbon and water or vodka martinis and I have no problems. It does affect my ability to lose though..... I was a daily drinker before surgery and pretty much back to that at this point.

I have a drawer full of various shapewear....I usually get things at Ross or Marshalls, sometimes on sale at Kohl's and Zulily also has good prices at times. I like underwire camisoles to wear with jeans since it smooths out the muffin top. I wear the bottoms that look like bike shorts with dress pants or dresses for work. I also have various slips that I have worn, mostly when we wear dressy stuff on cruises.

Congratulations!! You are a definite inspiration to me and many others on this site.