OH Juli

ugh, the skin thing is hard one. I have so much to lose plastic surgery is a foregone conclusion. There are some folks who claim deep tissue massage helps with this. Perhaps a thorough google will give you some answers. Sorry, TX. I'm not so helpful.

I've been noticing that it's the little improvements that make a huge difference in how I feel about this whole journey; particularly in regard to exercise. For example today I was on the tread mill for a total of 30 minutes. I walked three, ran 7 and I did that three times. Well, it started with me running for 30 seconds every minute and a half. But slowly I added more running. For weeks I stayed at walk 2 minutes and run for 1. The goal is to run a 5K by February, then more later. I'd like to be able to run a solid hour which is hard to imagine! Mind you a year ago I'd not have run out of the way of car careening toward me. I would have resigned myself to certain death instead of running so this is no small thing. How about you other exercisers out there. What small improvements have you found in your abilities? Please share them with me...It's so encouraging!

If you want it badly enough you will attain it. Call it your mantra..."100%" or what ever. It's mine. I refuse to be average. I'm above average in intelligence, looks and personality. I'll be above average in this regard as well. If you don't say it out loud and believe it yourself than your chances of getting it are slim. So like Hip Hop Harry says, "If you believe it, you can achieve it!"

Here goes.... "Athletic" has been an adjective we've added to describe our mind blowing sex the last few months. I've always been sexually on, always ready...now my drive is not more pronounced but the sessions typically last longer and we are more inventive. Life is better in general because my stamina is better. From hauling stuff around the house, to working on my feet, to sleeping more soundly, to having super duper crazy, grab the exercise ball and lay across it sex. It's all freaking good.

A basic body weight lost formula would be (orginal weight/100)*(current weight/x) For me that would be (313/100)*(211/X) X=.67 Which means I weigh 67% what I used to weigh or I've lost 33% of my overall wieght. However you might want to do the equation with the amount of weight you've lost with the overall amount you had to lose. For me that would be (180/100)*(102/N) N=56.6 So I've lost 56.6% of what I want to lose. I'm a bit over half way there. HTH.

About intesity verses duration, I'd shoot for duration. Up it by a minute a visit. Today is 30, tomorrow is 31. With cycling I know the idea is to get the distance than bulid the speed. The biggest thing IMHO is to have a plan to reach for. Don't ever think that what you are doing today is going to be the same effective workout a month from today. Keep your eyes open for things that might get your interest, dance, spinning, boxing, swimming... Good luck.

I'M DONE, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done!!!!!!!!!!!! Finshed even. I don't have school again until January 28th!!!!!!!! Mind you I'll be going stir crazy in a few weeks....but I'm done. Oh, and this means the undergraduate portion of my education is complete. No, I don't get my BS until summer, but I start GRAD school in January. FINISHED FINISHED FINISHED!!!

Awe, Mrs. H, that's so sweet...... I'm about 6 years away from that. But how cool are you to celebrate! And RED lobster of all places! My niece was late starting as was so stoked she called the whole family to tell each of us. Even my Hungarian father who didn't know how to respond other than, "good for you." My sister bought her a garnet necklace to commemorate. Very cool. Thanks for sharing the story!

The deal with bringing the kid is that I could travel for longer periods of time with her than without her. I can only get away for 3 or 4 days without her. And as for the Muddy Buddy, I'm pretty sure that will be the weekend before I take her to Disney (I so wish they'd post the dates for that soon.) An extended road trip after that wouldn't be possible for me. But a road trip in June or July to Texax would be doable. TX, we most very well could show up in your town. It's how we roll. And yes, please do tell us where the best places to stay would be. hehehehe this is stunningly crazy to think about.

TX,We have now invited ourselves to your house for real. We do that kind of thing, impose ourselves, etc. Hope you don't mind.

Uhhhhhh, Could we bring our kids? Would we want to? It would be a riot, really! I could be down for the trip...I like the idea of the bikes, the pool and meeting TX, B and ZZ. D how hard would it be for you to get to Texas?!

I checked too. If you swing by Columbus it adds a bit, but I say we go to IN, and MO to pick up a few people on our way down. UGH, for real, my ass would be on a plane seat more quickly than you could get me in a freaking car for the better part of a day....

Oh, heck, you all are talking to me about myself! I love food. I love cooking, food trivia, the science of thermo-dynamics of how food cooks....I can tell you about history of the fork and the etymology of cooking terms. I’m a huge nerd too. <O:p I have nearly exclusively worked in kitchens since I was 16 and still work in a kitchen. (I'm on my way to an MBA to get me away from where food is served, but I'll stay working in this industry...because 20 years of experience is hard to walk away from.) It’s like an alcoholic working in a bar. Yes, it is. <O:p But yes, I see me as person with a chronic illness, which can be labeled morbid obesity or food addiction. I see myself as someone who is managing the illness really well at this point, but I never expect for it to go away completely. I will always have to monitor food in my life differently than normal people. It's just what I've got to do. <O:p I'm grateful for the band it helps fight the weight and symptoms of my disease, but this battle will be on going and ever changing. But I won’t let it determine the quality of my life anymore which is an amazing change in my world view. <O:p</O:p

Laura, Thank for the link. You have a very tender heart.

I've always wanted to go to Texas. Meeting you all would make for an excellent reason to travel. How long would it take to drive from Detroit to Fort Worth? BG, are you down for a road trip?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ Aren't you too cute?! I love when you can fix cake accidents with extra fluffy stuff. The ice pics are Beautiful!

Triple "awe shucks", Mrs. H! I'll tell you what...there are days like today where I'm uplifted by the people on this board. My body aches and I'm not making the best food choices.... But coming here gets me some perspective. This is such a shared journey. Thank you so much for your kind words.

I want to eat some burnt chicken... Okay, maybe some oatmeal. Hungry.................

BG, What a fantastic way to brighten my morning. It's hard to remember you being a newbie biker, not wanting to wear a helmet. But I remember reading that post one July morning and cracking up! Jenn, it's so good to see you here. How are you feeling? Did you get a two letter nickname? I can't remember. D, School is nearly out. I've got books and projects all lined up to keep me occupied during my free time. Of course Christmas planning will keep me busy for the next week and half, but after that I'll be able to do what I want to do!!! I don't see me getting my Secret Santa in the mail before Friday, if I'm lucky...I'll try my best.

OMG, that's funny. Did you find the posts where BG flipped on her bike with an audiance? That was priceless. Of course she was fine...or where she later threw her bike in a fit of rage? HP, we miss you and your pictures. Hope you are well.

1. I want to be that smart, funny, pretty woman that I am without the added, "despite being fat." 2. I want to run long distances and bike even longer ones. 3. I want to make more money. 4. I want my daughter to hold me on her lap when she's older, like I hold her now. 5. I want to ride roller coasters. 6. I want to travel to other countries and not be seen as the typical obese American. 7. I want to control my future, not let eating control it.

Marianne, I too did what you did. My pup always needed to go out in the middle of the night. I found that to be a prime time to eat the left overs from dinner or what ever else I could down in the time is would take her to pee. I was fully awake and aware of my night eating. I would wrestle with myself and consider it a success if I got back to bed without eating. After being banded it stopped for the most part, unless I was stupid hungry. I'd then just eat some fat free cheese or something and count it. Just this past September I had to put my dog to sleep, so the issue is mute...I sleep through the night without temptation. I do miss my pup though.

ZZ. We decorated gingerbread houses tonight with some friends. The holidays wreck havoc on good intentions. Bastard holidays! Lisa, hi and welcome. Neveragain, like BG said, get on at least 4 different bikes and talk to the folks at the LBS. What part of the country do you live in? In the north you can get some sweet deals this time of year due to the weather. If you are a glutton for punishment you can go back around page 100 and find some good more specific advice. XO everyone.

Bike on indeed. That's a fantastic turn around. You da' man. Woot Woot!

Awe hell, I feel like Ohio is freaking tropical compared. I'm running outside today. It's wet but about 40 degrees. Mind you we should get some snow this weekend...but it really doesn't stick around until the end of January/February. Tomorrow is the last bit of school I have until January 28th...do you know how happy that makes me????