OH Juli

Traci- That's wonderful that you're in a new decade...at least that's what I call a new group of tens. WOOT WOOT. You now have less than 100 pounds to lose! That's amazing! sorry to hear about your pup's pup. :eek:

wear not where

Well...so many questions!! Where did you have your surgery? I was done at OSU. I've not ridden up by Easton, I've never had reason too, yet. Though I will, I'm sure. I'm just getting a little further afield than my own trail, which is the Olentangy bike path. I can catch it at the end of my street. But I do a Hilliard ride on Tuesdays and this past Saturday I did the famous, "Dutch Country Kitchen" ride in Plain City. Everybody- That's where upwards of 100 cyclists hit there every Saturday for breakfast. It's very flat road riding and you can get belly buster breakfasts. I of course order two eggs and toast.-It is legendary. So much so they sell bicycling jerseys and many folks where them Sat. mornings. There's a great group of cyclist in Columbus with Columbus Outdoor Pursuits. You can find their info on line or at any local bike shop. Okay, can you tell I love biking? I've probably scared you off. But WOO HOO a local, who bikes! I'm so excited.

HOLY CRAP, Do you scuba dive too? You are one insane fella. Boys and their toys......

Sophie, your heading is funny! I tell you, I've got a cracker thing going on too. I really like them more now than before surgery. There's a SNL skit in that...WLS people going nuts for crackers... Good luck getting rid of them.

Hi Debbie, I'm in Columbus! Are you close to the Little Miami Bike Trail? I know it goes all over the place in SW Ohio. I'm really guessing where loveland is...I guess I could look it up! Ha You've gone the most important thing, which is actually getting on the bike. Congratulations! Are you just two weeks out from surgery?! Take it easy on the wipe outs, you don't need to go showing off already. (We tease on this thread too.) Sounds like all is well. Welcome and pose any question you'd like, it doesn't even need to be bike related. Nice to meet 'cha!

JC I'm not afraid of you or your razzing. Bring it on. I'm off to do shopping with a 5 year old. Wish me luck. I need to find that special zen place where everthing is interesting and conversation flits from point A to point D with an occational begging for something...

HP, I don't have many excuses for not going to the gym. We have a new, fancy fitness center that is chuck full of equipment...and it is so close my office shares a wall with it! I can go during my lunch time and right now, during the summer, I can extend my lunch time to more than an hour and hit it hard. Also, no one sees me much so I can work the rest of the day sweaty....I typically don't even change out of my workout clothing. As I type that I'm kicking my own ass. Also, since I've not strength trained the last two weeks I'm noticing my back hurts a bit with all the sitting and biking I do...so I know I just got to do it. Deanna will have Baby Girl, you and JC while I am away. But if I can I'll pop on line, well maybe. I'm going to the beach, biking and reading fiction! We are joking that we're goint to eat a lobster a day. That works with my goals...I don't eat it with butter. JC is just slacking, I mean recovering from having his tummy twisted. Talk about irritable bowel syndrome. Ha ha. Dude I hope you're just chilling.

Jo Thanks for the advice. My GF is not the tattoo type. She's very corperate and doesn't like pain. Doesn't even have her ears pierced. I on the other hand two tattoos, but haven't been all that inclined to get a third in the last 15 years. Actually, when I get plastic surgery to remove the belly skin, my first tattoo on my hip will probably go...I'm not sure how I feel about that, if I'll get it redone or just forget about it....That's something I didn't plan for back when I was 19 and got it! We are staying at a Lesbian B&B.

Yep toe clips allow you to pull up and push down while riding. I'm thinking I need to get a fill too, instead of doing this fill less, truely it's been 2 and a half weeks since I've lost a pound and it has everything to do with the number of calories I can eat. I hope during vacation I don't eat crazy. This week, before we go I'm going to try to keep my food low and work out like JC. I say that but it's finals week for school. I also have a little scrapbook I've got to get done before vacation too. I like to keep busy but this is a little much.

HP WE ARE BOTH PAST OUR GOALS!!!!!!!!! Now if you could just get my ass to go to the gym and strength train, I'd appreciate it.

HP Sorry to hear about your dog's troubles. That makes me sad. I want to take the props for being out in front but the group started with 14 people and at one point more than half decided to do 40, the others to do 25-ish. I was in the lower number group, and there were only 6 of us. But breakfast took longer than I expected and I had to get home to the sitter...or I would have done 40!! But...for the picture, I knew she was going to take a snap shot so I got up front to have less of my ass in the pic...or is that to have my ass take up less of the picture. At any rate, I'm a good cyclist, but these chicas can do circles around me. HP, You can put toe clips on any style of bike.

Dag on, I must be tired...there were so many errors in my last posts. Oi J

That's me in the front, on my bike, I'm not tiny, but smaller than I used to be.

HP That is phanominal! You have every reason to be proud! Don't worry about being a baby, I'm so glad you did the ride so you won't have surprises next week. You'll be fine, fine, fine for that ride. Aren't goals amazing?! If we set them we really do try to achieve them. I'm so stoked for you! Now about feet slippin...think about toe clips. Some people like them. I do but took them off of my bike because I was having pressure point problems...my feet were falling asleep. Come to find out it was my seat and I've not yet put the toe clips back on. Part of me is holding out to get a shoe and peddal system...but I digress. The other think is to get a computer gadget for your bike that measures distance and speed. Mine was about $30 and I install it myself. I'm no handy person either. That way you'll have a real measure of time and distance so you can gage your performance. Okay, to DD to the pool this afternoon for a few hours too. I don't recognize myself and all this engery. Really.

Pamela That's funny! I hear you, I need to get more of the goodness off of me as well. I graduated from HS in 1986.

Hi gang I did 26 miles with the WOW group this morning. My speed was faster too, I averaged over 14 mph, which is super cool... To brag a little, because who would have thought a formerly 300+ chica would be asked this, someone said, "what else do you do for workouts? I ask because you are a really strong cyclist, especially for being so new to it." Me, strong? Who knew??? I said I do gym stuff, cardio and strength...I'm sure they didn't want the nitty gritty...but I felt so cool. Anyway, I'm taking the kiddo out tomorrow night on her tag along bike and I'll be out again on Tuesday with a group... You know, I love this biking stuff. JC-Thanks for the 411 on you and your kid. Very cool. My situation is similar but vastly different....My daughter isn't biologically mine, nor do I have any legal rights to her, but me, the other, bio-mom and the Kid function like a divorced family with shared custody and shared money to raise the kid. I figure I was part of the decision to bring her into our lives, it's my obligation to raise her. It's also my joy and I'd be devistated with out her...... Anyway I hope you're feeling better and on the mend. We still want to know about the fate of your band.

I second, the "YOU HAVE A SON???" statement. Do you have a wife too? I know I look like the biggest flirt, but I'm not. Really. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with what happened. That's scary as hell. You'll get through this no doubt. But you know we girls over here want to know the gritty details....

Four weeks minimally is what I'd expect. Certainly after 6 you can ride. You just need to not strain your tummy muscles right after surgery. Biking can do that. It might take a little doing, but going up hill, etc would do it.

I said bicycling, of course. I love my elpytical trainer too. I have to say I'm slacking on the strength training. I think it's the schedule I'm keeping. Only one more week of insane classes, then vacation, THEN I can get back on track. I have been cycling 60-100 miles a week, so I'm not a complete and utter slacker. In the winter I want to find boxing or kick boxing or something intense. Also, I'll be hiring a personal trainer to kick my butt into the 100's. Then it will be time to start running!!!!! I'm a girl with a plan.

I've too started to laps...more because I am bored while my DD is taking swimming lessons. I'm not a proficient swimmer, but I hear it's great for regulating breathing in other sports...like running and biking. I love to bike and I want to run when I get under 200 lbs. I'm good for about 15 minutes of bad form lap swimming.

Looking forward to vacation. ONE MORE WEEK then we are off to P-Town with all the gay people. I can't wait. Pamela, we need to make a plan...

Didn't you say something about having a sister? Is she cute? Now, I'll stop. My GF is the jealous type. I would have guessed that focusing on exercise or your goal whatever they be, is your coping mechanism. I'm trying to relearn how to cope since food is no longer an option. Or since food should no longer be an option...you'd be amazed at the calories lurking out there, just ready to jump in my mouth. Glad to see you have your humor about you, JC.

JC, Take it easy for a minute. Amping up the exercise is not what you need to be doing...Let your body rest. You'll see your goal, you will, you will....and you can continue to exercise as you heal from your stomach twisting. And what about the kidney stones? I hear those hurt like a SOB. But knocking yourself out for those last five pounds when you are not as well as you could be isn't going to do you any good. Please don't comfort yourself with the thought of a typical sized casket instead of the XL size...(sorry if that's too soon to be funny.) Settle down there, if I were in FL I'd push you down and sit on your chest. And I'm not talking all sexy either. Cuz you know, I don't much like the boys in that way. (Slack, that's for your flirting comment...) And I weigh more than you, so I assure you it won't be fun. :eek: Now, HP, yes you can move a seat forward or backward. You'll see it's attached to the post on two rails. You can loosen the nut that holds the rails tight and slide the seat as you see fit then tighten the nut again. Good to know you'll be looking great doing those 20 miles. I'll try to post a pic of me and the bike soon. J

Janine I ride my little butt off. I'm on one of those skinny tire bikes too. My shins (sp) used to hurt walking, but I don't have issues on a bike. Find what works for you.... As for clothing, I did give a bunch to Volunteers of America. I'm using it as a tax write off. The really nice stuff I'm giving to a friend who is tickeled to have it. But that was tricky..."Hey chubby, want my giant clothing?" Really, I was sensitive about asking her and she was happy to take the donation. Thanks for the kind words about being inspired. Some days it's hard to feel inspiring. But...........DENISE..........I finished the bike challenge today. I did 1/10 of the Tour de France. My gray day got better. Thanks everyone for being there. I appreicate you all more than I can ever say.