guysis

Go Julie...............have fun in St. Barts.........enjoy your new home.........I'm going to enjoy your PS as much as you do - oh, for a hard, young body!..............you lucky kid you! It's fun being a grammy and living through you young guys..........like doing it all over. Alan and I are going to the Seattle Splash this week-end.........we can use a week-end away! Boo, I'd love to hear about your new stuff with a private e-mail.......keep us posted about your hubby. Got to the gym today to do my NIA class.

Kat - You are there also............so close to "onederland"...........the 3 of you at the same weight! Kat, I felt just like you did............with both parents having had by-pass (heart) surgery I was sure it would be me..............still might be, but that Alan will have it just blows me away...............he's always been thin and so healthy...........just can't believe it!

Dawn and Roberta.............you both weigh the same! You guys are going into onederland together!!!!!! We're all rooting! Dawn I can't even imagine how you survive in that place..........polar bears - yikes! I'm on my way out the door going for a routine mammogram and it's cold (45 maybe) and raining............and I'm wanting to just curl up and read in front of the fireplace.............I guess we adapt - sure glad I don't have to.............too old at this point...............Dawn keep up that great work-out mentality........you are something!

Boo - how exciting - tell us more about the new opportunity! As for the valve problem - wow, isn't it wild that at least 3 of us in this small group have family with problems! Alan's is caused by stenosis (old age) - the worsening anyway - he has had a problem (tho slight) for years. The newest with us is that he has a phone appt with his Dr. on Friday morning to discuss more with her...............he is now leaning to have the angiogram soon and then making a decision. The angiogram will confirm the problem and see if he has any arteries to also bypass while they are in the area (due to his age). My son had a murmer when he was a child and developed a horrible staff infection when he cut his foot while wind surfing in the bay in San Francisco (at 25) that caused endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart)...............and wrecked his valve...........then years later developed the anyorism (probably due to the first surgery - they are not sure) and had to have that repaired along with the new valve................yuk..................wouldn't wish it on anyone - it is not a fun surgery (we've had too much experience). We're trying to keep on with normal every day life and did our walk this morning! Roberta.............I can feel "onederland" for you! Keep up the great work. It is so much fun to leave those 2's behind!

You are righty Kat..........we do know what to expect - a bit frightening on the one hand, but we know the pain ends and the results take you back to "normal"! We also are very experienced.........both my parents had bypass surgery - my father in the early, early days when the proceedure was new he had to have it done twice in 6 months (he closed up) and then again after 15 years - and my mother right around the time my dad had his 3rd surgery!.............they've come a long way baby since those early days and even since my son Craig had his first valve done - of course that was 18 years ago! My Dad about 30 or more years ago....my parents are both gone now.........but had many years added to their lives because of those surgeries. Hope you're able to resume your normal routines soon..........don't stress over it though.............whatever you can do will keep you going and if you need to rest up to relieve whatever stress those legs have.........just do it!

Where are you all? Got my NIA class in this morning! We're waiting for a call back from the doctor. A bit stressed............but not horrific! Julie, can't wait to hear how the move went. How are you all feeling - those of you with owies?

Got to my class this morning.........Alan and I snuggled and talked a lot during the night. We're both a little settled down about this whole heart valve thing and he's going to call the cardiologist back on Monday, we'll go in again and probably ask to have the echo repeated and the heart angiogram done, talk to the surgeon and then make a decision about when he will have the surgery. I'm hoping he will have it soon and get it over with! Julie, hope you had no problems with the move into the new home!

Oh Kat, you guys really had a time with all that you and your hubby went through. Your husband is about the same age as our son Craig - he's turning 44 in May. Craig did have, I believe great medical care........and it will be the same group at the same hospital that Alan will be - eventually - having the surgery. Thanks for all the advice also for my brother.......sounds like you "youngins" have had your share of medical problems with all that has been going on with yourselves and family. That is not supposed to happen until "you're old and gray"! Unforturnately about your age is when the parents start to fall apart. Alan and I were just saying a couple of weeks ago that we were the only "healthy" in-laws of all the kids - talked a little too soon!.................gonna try my best to help the kids out and stay healthy for a while! Bluehill, hope today was a better one for you............when do you actually leave on your trip? Can't wait to see you! Roberta, so happy to hear you're back up and about! Boo..........I too just this past week have felt hungrier.............just a couple of weeks ago was feeling very "tight" and had to watch what I ate so carefully.................I do believe I also need a fill.............bet you have no problems - no slip - just need a fill..........remember that is what the adjustable band is all about! It sure can happen quick. Plan on getting to the gym in the morning - hopefully no more surprises for a while.

Kat...........well Alan is not as bad as your husband (yet)....he's "only" at 60%..............how old is your hubby? A lot younger than Alan probably. Yes, we do know all about coumadin (our son had a mechanical valve at 25 - they tried to change over to a tissue valve this last go around - because they wanted to try and get him off coumadin since he's been on so long..............but, it was not possible......they had to go with the mechanical again because of the anyorism and the way the whole thing had to be done..........).....when you are young they often go with mechanical because of the lenghth of time the valves last......tissue not as long. The last go around with my son, even tho he might have to have surgery again (for a 3rd time) they thought they would be better off......but it was not to be. Craig has not really had any problems with the coumadin - except for the bad bleed after the surgery when they had to go back in.................you know you just have to trust them I guess. Alan's cardiologist said that the surgeon usually makes the decision (along with you) and that in Alan's case he was sort of marginal, but she thought they would suggest a tissue valve. We shall see. Been talking to all my kids and they agree with me that if it were them, they would do it now and not wait!

Well Guys, what a difference a week (a day) makes? Kat, Hope all went well with your hubby. Please let us know. Bluehill, What a bummer.........who needs this? Not us! OK, here's the scoop on Alan. He has a valve that is not working very well - has no apparent symptoms (strange the Doc says) for the test results..............he progressed from 27% backflow (mild to moderate) to 60% (low severe). He will not make it to a grand old age if he doesn't have heart valve surgery - BUT, there is no emergency right now. He has elected to wait about 6 months (unless he develops severe symptoms - shorness of breath, lightheadedness, etc) and go in after we return from our trip to France and NY in mid May/early June). At that time he'll have another echo and probably an angiogram and will at that time make a decision when to have surgery. If it were me, I'd do it now.......I would not want that hanging over me.............but he is not me........and I do not want to push him. It was such a surprise because he not feeling different...............I see differences in him, but just attributed it to old age creeping up (he's 71).........the doctor says that it is probably a combination and that the fact of his increased exercise (because of me) proably is masking some of the symptoms (a good thing she says). She doesn't want him doing real strenuous things, just walking on a treadmill or outside and not lifting heavy things over 10 lbs or climbing up ladders - hope he listens to her............he's a fixit type of guy and has had a hard time slowing down...........especially with my increase in exercise and all the energy I now have! We're both trying to keep cool and collected! In addition - my brother (who is MO and working on getting the band) fell in his bathtub last night and we took him to the emergency room this morning right before we went to Alan's doctor.......and he has a fracture in his arm just below the shoulder joint......so far he is in a sling - they say they cannot do anthing else at this time.......so's he's in pain and now asleep on my chair in my living room. Not sure if I've told you all about him.............a sad case - 60 years old, no family (very addictive personality) - who is on medicare SSI and Alan and I have to help him with his finances...........so we have a guest for a while until lhe feels better. He usually spends a few days a week with us! Ah, life! It could be so much worse..............thank G they can fix what Alan has!

Bluehill - take care and rest up - You need to be well for our get-together here in Portland! (If you can't exercise - we'll sit around and gab and go to lunch (that's not a dirty word is it?). What a pain in the tush - hurting/illness is no fun. Thanks to all for the good wishes for Alan. I've calmed down since yesterday - fell apart a bit there! Alan actually has an appt with a Cardiologist tomorrow morning - so maybe we'll know more - or maybe he'll need more tests??? Didn't do a stick of exercise today - except my fingers on this keyboard! Went to a nice luncheon, had fun with friends and just relaxed. A good change of pace.

Got to NIA today! Tomorrow going to a big luncheon - so no work out! Julie - stress, stress. Just when life slows down, something always seems to come up! Hope you get a chance to think it through and I'm sure whatever decision you make will be the right one. Today brought some stress into my life also - having a hard time even thinking about this, but my husband Alan had to go for an echocardiagram today because the Dr. last week did not like what he heard - Alan's had a heart mermur (sp?) for years and it seemed to sound worse. He had an echo a couple of years ago..............anyway the test showed that their was a larger problem and he's going in for more tests and in the worst case he might have to have a valve replacement (does this sound familiar - our son just went through this in November - of course he also had more problems).............just can't believe this might be happening.

Julie - eek - please be careful with those stylish booties.............guess I should be happy I can't get my lovely old lady ankles in them! Hope you're not hurting too much in the morning. I'm the original klutz - I'm always falling down and Alan calls it my "dance step"................I think with all the weight loss - we're off balance.

Hey Boo, I hope that's "only" what it means - ok - I'll guess hug! Ok Amourette - give us the truth!

Amourette - OK I give - maybe I shouldn't ask - what is a snog? Sounds like fun - I hope! Got my walk in today - about 3 miles....about an hour! Roberta, hope you're feeling better soon...........just give yourself time to heal.

I love hearing about all you young ones talking about dates - we "oldies" live vicariously through you! I have a daughter who is 41 and unforturnately recently (2 years now) divorced - she also is the Mama of 2 of my 8 grandkids.............and yes she tells me about her dates - sometimes a bit "too much"............but, I have fun hearing about all her "escapades". Kat, I can't imagine driving in all that snow and ice - you are sure brave......I'm such a wimp when it comes to bad weather and driving. Just got back from my marathon day at the gym - NIA, core and Strengh Training.........phew! Today I was really tired - have not missed a day in a while......not bad for this 67 year old grammy. One of these days the scale will move again - please!

Yipeeeeee...............Julie - that is a real WOWIE! Proud of you! I've signed up with Alan to do a 5K walk @ 6AM in Seattle at the Splash! Roberta - Oh my gosh - now take it easy for a few days please! Boo - sorry you had to cancel your trip - the next time you're up this way please let me know..............Bluehill and I are going to have a great time and we'll be thinking of you all - she's coming to visit family and I get to have her for a day or two! Can't wait to meet her - it will be so nice to have a face and body to hug! On an exercise spree - did my NIA class again today. The lbs have to start rolling off (don't they???)!!!!!!!! I think I'm in that mode of sameness for several weeks and then a few fall off - I hope.

Julie - Have a great run tomorrow. We'll be there with you!!!!! Like the suggestions for inviting the April gang to join us - here and in a general chat thread! Got in my NIA class today.

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/223/150 - 40 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: DeltaDawn - 358/202/179 - 156 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/165/132 - 43 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/117/110 - 63 total--NO MORE BAND :-( 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/174.5/134 - 59.5 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/227/180 - 131 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/143.5/140 - 96.5total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/187/145 - 30 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/192/140 - 50 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/198/180 -86 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-20: TrustUfirst - 210/205/177/135 - 32 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/179/130 - 41 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/228/156 - 60 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/208/150 - 65 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/98/69 - 27 kgs/59.4 lbs total 4-24: Ceparano- 255/270.5/205/170 - 65.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/210.5/165 - 78.5 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/206/160 - 56 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/184/150 - 80 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/229/150 - 54 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/228/150 - 105 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/150/135 - 75 total 4-29: Momofsixkids - 238/188/140 - 50 total

Well I just got home from the gym - did my marathon today......NIA for an hour, 1/2 hour of core, 1 hour of Group Power (weight lifting to music). This stuff is not for sissies! I'm up this week 1 1/2 lbs - go figure - guess those liquid calories in Palm Springs did not help. I've got to get busy if I'm going to make it to 'overweight' by April 7th! Dawn, look at you..........."onederland" is right around the corner! I'm going to the Seattle Splash Band week-end in a couple of weeks (week-end of the 16th). Wish some of you were attending. But, I am going to have a guest in about a month.............Bluehill is coming to Portland and we're going to the gym together!!!!!! As soon as we meet, I'll pass along all the gossip about her to you all! I'm really excited to finally get to meet one of you in person - a real face and body to hug.

Oh, my gosh I just went back and read the last day posts of January! Your problems are over - when you get here you call me and I'll get you a pass to my gym for the time you are here! I'll introduce you to my wonderful NIA class - you'll sweat your buns off! I'm so excited! Don't you dare not spend time with me! Eva - you are so cute - and wow in one leg! I'm going to make that my next goal.

Yahoo...........here we go again. On the subject of joining this challenge.........when I first started I had no thoughts of actually making the challenge............just wanted a little motivation and I GOT SO MUCH MORE...........wow to the point that I need exercise almost every day! Anyone out there who would like to give it a shot............go for it. If we help you to do anything more than you are doing now or even to just keep up with what you are doing now..........how great! I do believe we should keep this an exercise challenge tho vs. something else................that is our goal with this thread that has come to be so much more and the reason we are doing so wonderfully. I hope all that are active now realize that this is not a race (just as the weight we lose is not)..........I look at my achievements in losing weight and whatever numbers I hit in the exercise column as a challenge to myself alone and relish in all of your accomplishments - hopefully I help inspire because my gosh you are all so inspiring..........just look where we all have come from!!!!!!! Alan and I braved the cold yesterday and walked (Dawn it was 35 deg F here - wow are we brave) and I'm off to the gym soon. Let's all be injury free and very healthy in February!

Roberta, I understand your frustration - I feel it also. I think now that we are out here at about 10 months we'll have to put up with the snail pace of the rest of our weight loss. I seem to go in spurts of 3-5 pounds and then nothing for quite some time! It is hard because the focus of our year has been so into this journey. Keep plugging - we're all here together pushing each other along. It's a lifetime commitment and we'll all get there eventually and this time for good! I'm happy with this months challenge - just a couple of months until our Bandanniversaries - wow this year is flying - I don't know about you all, but the older I get the more the days fly by. Just experienced a horrible loss - a friend (not real close, but I knew her well) just died from a ceribral hemmorage - she was only 50 years old. Makes you appreciate every minute - you never know. So we are doing the best thing we could possibly do for ourselves and our families by becoming healthier people. See you in next month's challenge.

Wow, what a group! How did this happen? Where could we have possibly found each other if we had not had this "ring around our rosy tummy"? Amazing! I'm off tomorrow morning for my last day of this challenge to do my NIA class - without you all I'd still be at my "possible 3 times a week - probable 2 or 1 time a week". You've made it fun and enjoyable for me - so hard to believe - exercise fun!!! No matter how many days we do - we all are giving it our best - life sometimes gets in the way of best intentions - we have to learn to forgive ourselves if we don't quite make our "pledge".................just like the forgiveness we allow ourselves for getting a bit lost occasionally with the food we put in our tummies - it's something I've learned (never too late) this go around...........if I fall off, I start over (before when I fell off - it WAS over). Why did it take me 67 years? I am not 4 pounds from goal...........I am 4 lbs from being "overweight".....but a big yipee for that. After I reach that, I'll readjust my goal.............like Jule, I don't know if I'll ever get to a "normal" weight for my height (I'm only 5'3"), but around 150 sounds pretty good to me. we shall see????? I have not felt this comfortable with my self in years. It feels so good. I'm writing this from my daughter's house - been babysitting my 2 adorable grandkids............going home now!

Wow - go away for a few days and all kinds of things happen! Hope all who have injured themselves are healing..........please be careful.........it is frightening when we injure ourselves.............we need this exercise and the thought of not being able to continue is downright terrifying! So, please let yourselves heal before starting up again. Julie - am saving that time in Oct 2007 - or anytime you'd like to come. The rest of you are all invited too - I'll find room..........got lots of beds and lots of couches. Yipee for your move out of that "MO" - hate those words - never will they come back to haunt you again. I had a wonderful time in Palm Springs - actually came in 4th in the Mah Jongg tournament - had fun with my friends, got to be with my baby sister (she's 17 years younger and lives in San Diego), the weather was great (75 deg F) - got in a couple of great walks, the food was nice (I did good). I did drink a couple of margaritas tho (woops - liquid calories).............don't worry, I'm not trading one addiction for another - 1 drink and I've had it! I'm up for whatever you'd all like to do the next couple of months.....my personal goal is to exercise at least 6 times a week at least 45 minutes a session and I do count my walks!..............and Julie I think your idea is great. I'm in!