deboregon

my appointment is at 2:45 and my plane leaves at 6:30. I have a shuttle spot secured for 4:30-4:50. Hope we meet up.

I know I should've gone back sooner, but couldn't drum up the courage (flying in winter, etc.) I wish I could see the difference in my pix. I just can't. I did get copies of some wedding photos (Oct. 11) and will bring them with me next Tues. in case I get an opportunity to see you, Miss Dee. Patty, we will all be here supporting you and loving you as you are a wonderfully deserving woman. I can hardly believe the difference in alll those pictures. You are beautiful, inside and out!:thumbup::thumbup:

WOW, Mini, you look wonderful! Patty, beautiful pic. What a difference! Well next Tuesday I will be getting my second fill; hopefully, that will force me to perform a little better than I have been lately!

You are lookin' good, girlfriend! Love the glasses. I had Lasik surgery about 6 years ago and have been soooo happy. I accepted having to wear reading glasses in exchange for seeing distance. Good trade off, as now I get to spend $ on fun, funky reading glasses. I have DOZENS of them, something to match every outfit. Used to drive my students nuts: "Ms. J, just HOW many pairs of glasses do you have???" Hi, I am from Portland and flew to Denver for my surgery with Dr. K. (greatest dr. in world, and the best OR people you could ever hope for!) As a retired teacher who still has insurance through school district, my particular insurance did not cover it. Now, here every school district is different; those who have Blue Cross/Blue Shield have coverage. All state employees have coverage. It is nuts, but I figured I am worth the cost of a cheap used car! I fly back to Denver for fills; my operation was Aug. 20 and my first fill was Sept. 25. I am going for my second fill Feb. 10. I choose to spend the $ to go to Dr. K as then if something were to happen (a knick in the line or something), he will take care of it. If I were to go to another dr. or a fill center and something went awry, Dr. K would charge to fix it. So my flight is $160 and $40 shuttle. I am out at 6am and home by 9pm. Fill centers are very high as are most drs. The ones I contacted ranged from $190 per fill to $300+ per fill, if they would do them at all. Like Dee said, lots don't want to help patients from other drs. Good luck to you, you have made a great choice!:tongue2:

Those are great goals, but given that our time frames for challenges have been shortened, aren't you being a bit hard on yourself to do 10% each time? You have done so well, I would hate to see you be down on yourself for not meeting a goal. Just a concern, Dee, not a criticism:heart:

Amethyst: congrats on overall weight loss numbers. Boy, you are losing fast:thumbup: Okay, I will confess my ignorance: what is a "monroe piercing"?:thumbup: Dee: I went back over my numbers for this challenge, and I screwed up (in denial, i suppose) week one was correct; week two should be +5:cursing: and week three should be +4:cursing: and this week is -8.2:thumbup: Following Patty's advice this week and eating salad and such for breakfast helped; plus your story about the laid-up woman eating dinner in morning and lighter later in day helped too. I don't necessarily eat breakfast at night; I just eat a lighter meal late afternoon. It seems as if I eat only two meals a day. However, being retired, I sit and read paper, drink coffee, watch Matt and Meredith, and then eat something about 9. Then a protein drink around noon. Last meal about 4. I might have a lowfat ice cream treat or celery with ff cream cheese around 7 and that's it. (I go to bed at 9; I know, one might think I was 75 instead of 57!)

Okay, girls, a friend of mine gave me a can of protein drink that she couldn't stomach (she has no weight problem, of course. In fact, she isn't ever hungry and forgets to eat! Sheesh, wish I had THAT kind of amnesia!). Anyway it is Worldwide Pure Protein Shake and it has 35 grams of protein and 3 grams of carbs (after subtracting the fiber). 11 ounce can, bigger than costco brand premier. She bought it at Trader Joe's. I don't know the cost or what flavors (this was "frosty chocolate":ohmy:) It didn't taste much different from the Costco stuff, but it probably is a little more expensive. However, if it keeps me out of costco, i am going to go for it. Going in there to buy 2 cases of protein drink for $50, but coming out with $200 worth of other stuff....not so wise!

YOU LOOK MAHVALOUS, PATTY! Congrats to you on all levels. So happy to hear you are feeling better. Good on ya! Okay, you are making me get teary! Congratulations to you, Dee, what a year for you. I know those of us who have corresponded on this site and those of us who have been so fortunate to actually meet you in person all feel our lives are much fuller because you are a part of it. You are an incredible person, an outstanding role model. I pray that we can meet up on the 10th.

Thanks for the heads up on that, Mini. I may just schedule for pickup at airport to hospital (still 4 hours early:angry:) but schedule a return time that day as Dee said she might be able to take me back to hospital if the justice system doesn't require her expertise!:bored:

Thanks, Dee, I appreciate your offer. Will keep you posted. You look great! Congrats on losing so much so quickly! Do you work out alot besides the dieting?

Dee: I tried for the 19th, but Natalie said Dr. K was out of the office that day...hmmm...oh, well, i went ahead and scheduled for Feb. 10 at 2:45; my plane gets in at about 11:30 and I fly out at 6 something. Maybe luck will be on my side and you won't get called for jury duty that day.:cursing: If not, I guess I will check out the supershuttle option Mini mentioned. Would anyone be available for a quick coffee in the late afternoon?

Dee: what does Tuesday the 10th of Feb. look like for you? I just got home and Natalie asked about a 2:45 appt. on that day. Whaddya think?

Thanks for the pep talk, mini. how does that supershuttle work? I have emailed Natalie about appts in Feb. on Tues or Th. so that I can fly in and out on same day. Shall see. Woke up to an inch of snow this morning! This weather is sooooo unusual; don't get it. Lap, thanks for the support and the ideas about changing the order of meals. It is the "mixing it up" that throws me off since I am a creature of habit (very bad habits:drool:) I need to motivate myself to move more. My brain knows what to do but my butt won't get into gear:mad2: You and Dee have both done sooooo well on this; you are both inspirations to the rest of us newbies, inspirations in so many ways.

No hallelujahs from the Pacific Northwest. Week 2: up 2 pounds:frown: Week 3: up 2 more pounds. I need a fill sooooo bad but the thought of flying to Denver, renting a car in winter, staying over by myself: money, fear...:thumbdown: I don't know. Maybe I am just too down right now and as a result am not making good decisions. Congrats to those of you who continue with progress:biggrin:

Have been gone for five days over the mountain to ranch where it was freezing fog for 4 days...never got above 27. So I haven't weighed since last wednesday. will check in morning to see where I am. Good to see so many of us doing so well and looking so good!

Dee, I agree: don't apologize! And Mini is right about how others can make similarly poor food choices and not gain an ounce, but it doesn't mean they are any healthier. Congrats, Jaime. Remember what Patty said, it took a long time to gain the weight, and it will take a while to lose it in a healthy manner.

Okay, Miss Dee, put this girl down for -8.4 this week!!!:tt2::tongue2::wub: Finally, good movement downward!! That is almost 57 pounds for me since the first of August! I can't wait for the pool to open to start an exercise program....since I haven't exercised at all since surgery:eek::coffee: We are finally having family over for xmas dinner since everything was postponed due to the unnatural snowstorm we had! Sheesh, we can finally take down the tree tomorrow!

Yea!!!! 5 more pounds gone today!!!!

I know what u mean abt. the water thing. I made it through yesterday with no carbs and lots of water, and was down 2.4 this morning. However, as we all know.....still it will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings. Atkins has always worked great for me. I ordered the Crack the Fat Loss code yesterday from Amazon. I always enjoy reading alternative methods. You guys seem to be doing well with it. Did they change the format here again? My little smilies are now on the side instead of at the bottom and not all are visible:bored:

Welcome, Dan. You will like it here, but I hope you like outspoken women as there are plenty of us here!!:thumbup:

OKAY, I am such a shumdit!! The Premier protein shakes have 30 g. of protein. In my head, I knew that I have 60 g. a day, and I usually drink 2 of these. Sheesh....guys, sorry. I would have you out there lookin' for a nonexistent product!:)

Lotza: I have been drinking the Premier Protein shakes from Costco. They are 1 gr. of carb and 60 g of protein. They are in choc. only, but are good, especially cold. They are thicker than the others, but I put a few ice cubes in and blend quickly and end up with more volume that is less thick. Miss Dee: Lovin' the new pic. You look beautiful. I am going to check out the "Crack..." site. I started Atkins today as I haven't budged in 5 weeks. In re to fills and feeling full: I am sure I need a fill, but since I cannot afford the plane ticket, plus am scared to drive in snow in Denver in February, I just won't eat anything without at least 4 hours going by. I eat about 1-2 cups total of whatever, steak and veg., sausage and cheese, egg salad.... I just need to MOVE and I hate exercise. But I thought Atkins might jumpstart me again as it almost ALWAYS works for me.

I would like a piece of the action:rolleyes2:. I think I will be more conservative this time and say 10 pounds for the time frame. I have been so bummed over the past month, and then today I found out the pool won't be completed until February, so no water aerobics for January:frown: I was so hoping to get that started. Great pix of the babies, grammas.

So sorry to hear about Barkley. It is soooo hard when you love the little buggers so much. Am happy to hear about Wilson:biggrin: He soulds wonderful and you should pat yourself on the back for rescuing him. How lucky is he!! Well, i am so gd tired of gaining and losing the same six pounds all month. Sheezzz....i have lost count of where I was and where I was headed. Only thing I know for sure is that i didn't come close to challenge goal. Are we gonna start over in New Year....say a Valentine's Challenge??:tongue_smilie: I have to check with parks dept. to see when the new pool opens and when the Water aerobics start. Happy New Year to all of you. Hope you have a safe and fun holiday.

Patti, thank you so much for comin' on here before the end of the year. You and your voice are soooo missed.