I'm here to help...

[Charlene K 1]

I just got back from the doctor. No tweaking for me. I am starting nutrition classes next month and physical therapy to learn the right exercises for me. He thinks I will be successful with these helps. Whatever it takes. I did not come this far to stop now. I will reach a healthy goal weight. I am not discouraged.........just determined! Thanks to all of you for the encouragement.

[ladykcusa 1]

Such a busy thread with interesting lives. I had my second appt with bariatric therapist today. We both feel I'm more than ready for Monday and the band.

Was very, very hungry last night, but just ate two sf popsicles and skim milk and went to bed.

Feeling very ZEN. Clarity of thoughts and centered. Fasting can do that.

Sending hugs to all.

Joyce in KC

[Apples2 19]

Such a busy thread with interesting lives. I had my second appt with bariatric therapist today. We both feel I'm more than ready for Monday and the band.

Was very, very hungry last night, but just ate two sf popsicles and skim milk and went to bed.

Feeling very ZEN. Clarity of thoughts and centered. Fasting can do that.

Sending hugs to all.

Joyce in KC

Hang in there, Joyce. Sounds like you have a great attitude about it all. Make sure you stick around and keep us informed every step of the way. (Speaking for all of us)...We love following ppl through the process and sharing our experiences.

[ocotillo 0]

Okay Apples, I see you put a challenge out there for Laura and me.....

Laura, what do you think? I usually mess up when challenged like this, maybe it's just what we need to keep ourselves focused. Sorry about your parents...they just want you near, even if you are sick. Your mom should understand that you don't want to share germs.

Apples, sorry about that poor man....it's really hard knowing you can't do anything about it.

Janet, enjoy your family....you'll have peace and quiet soon.

Joyce, you'll be very happy for that liquid diet after surgery. Hang in there, it's about time and you won't be hungry after surgery.

Charlene, good for you. Stay determined and positive...it will happen.

Great, those 3 pounds will come off...traveling makes it hard to stay on schedule and in a routine..sometimes I do good and other times not.

Judy, sorry about your arm...I hope it clears up quickly.

We are going to see Al DiMeola tonight...probably won't be able to post again until tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great night.

[Mrs. Bubba 0]

Hi everybody, it's my first chance today to sit down and read or post... It hasn't been a great day for me... don't feel just right either... I think maybe I'm just very tired.... The past 2 nights have been little sleep with the shoulder pain... then had to be up and out early for appts in Bismarck... I can home today and crashed.. Thankfully Mimi was ready for a nap, so we did that together today.... When DH came home he wanted the hot-tub, so had a little soak and now just finished supper.. I expect to crash and burn early tonight.. Bro has left for SD and nothing on the agenda for tomorrow, so I'm hoping to perk up some..

Laura, hope Nael and you will be back up on top of your game soon.. Sorry you have to miss your trip, but it wouldn't be good to take something to them... Nels is over it now??? Yes, DD has the Nemo movie, so we're good......

Apples, a very sad experience... I had a similar one, but I drove up to a house and found a dear friend on the ground, alive, but barely... got the ambulance but just knew he wouldn't make it... Brain dead from a massive stroke.... It haunted me for some time... and had to keep reliving it for the family... They asked me over and over if he suffered... Hope you are okay.....

Judy, I get that pain stuff..... not fun is it???? Hope you are better soon... heat and cold, off and on, is a good thing to try... Good luck.....

Well, I'm crashing by the computer so better sign off for tonight... Will be back when I can hold my head up again..... :confused: Night all............. Julie

[llkb4me 1]

Hey all, sorry for the pain you are feeling julie & judy. Wow Apples that had to be tough even if you didn't know the people.

Went to my Zumba class tonight, we have a new instructor and does she kick you a$$, but it sure feels good when we are done. Going to start going twice a week now that they are offering again.

Take care, Laura K

[ifyourstomachoffendsyou 1]

Attended an amazing prayer service this evening for my school, but I had to miss choir practice. Don't know if I told you guys but, for now, my job seems secure, at least for next year. The school will be opening and, for now, it looks like Chicago Public Schools will not be putting NCLB in the private schools into the hands of a private vendor who doesn't have to hire me. Actually, I'd let go of that worry.

My DH is sick. Came home to a note that he's off to urgent care. He thought he was getting bronchitis last night. He woke me up with two very explosive barking type coughs that scared the sh!! out of me. He slept in the chair the rest of the night.

So I'm waiting for him to come home. I gotta make sure I hang on my incline board. My neck was bothering me a lot by the end of the day. I've been on the computer at work where I have to lift my arms to keyboard. At home I sit with my laptop and don't have to lift my arms at all. They're nicely tucked in and supported between my body and chair arms and only my wrists and fingers move. The screen is at a perfect angle for my neck as well.

So, I seem to be altenating between high Protein low carb days and less Protein with higher carb treat days. Not gaining which could be because my overall calories are good and my fat content is low. I'm exercising every day too.

I can't wait for the snow to melt and the weather to warm a little so I can get out of this house more and walk outside. That always relieves the heebie jeebies.

Well, I'm about to fall asleep in my chair. Gotta go hang and go to bed.

Cheri

[ocotillo 0]

The concert was amazing....the venue is mediocre but oh well. Al Di Meola plays Spanish (as in Flamenco) influenced jazz, jazz fusion, and a little rock-sort of. Amazing guitar player. I saw him in Tucson 20 years ago with John Williams, Paco de Lucia and the lead guitar player of the Dixie Dregs (can't remember his name). I was utterly blown away by the music then as I am now. Now I have to wind down and go to sleep.

sleep well Julie....

Eva

[Great2BThin 5]

Good morning. Woke up to all white outside, more snow last night. I am waiting for it to melt off the roads some before I head out. I volunteered to pick up a cake at costco for DD's bridal shower tomorrow and a veggie tray. I invited my Grandma to go with me but she decided I would rather go without her. GRRR bugs me when she does that, I tell her if I wanted to go alone I wouldn't ask her.

I am anxious for my overnight trip to Las Vegas on Sunday. We used to live there and I enjoy going back though being back for such a short time and DH having to work at the airport part of it, won't leave any time to get together with anyone we know there. I'd love to maybe see a show but wow are they expensive. The good seats for Blue Man group are $153 each!

I slept so good last night from 930 last night til 730 this morning. Feels wonderful! Not sure why my knee pain was flaring up the previous few days but it seems better today, maybe it has to do something with the change in weather?

Apples, are you getting any hot weather down there in FL before you have to go back?

Janet, how's the visit with your son going?

Eva, sounds like you really enjoyed the show.

Joyce, hang in there, you are doing great!

LAuraK, good going on adding another day of Zumba to your week!

Laura, hope everyone is well soon, sorry you had to cancel your trip.

Julie, hope you slept well last night.

[IndioGirl55 32]

Good Morning Gang

Drive by post - Family left when I did this a.m - DIL sick - I hope to God I don't catch it..

Apples - Hugs - how sad !!!

Julie & Judy - Hugs on your pain issues - I'm a woosie - i don't think I could deal.

Laura - Hugs on not being able to go home - but you are right you don't want to expose your Dad to any illness right now - it could be life threating... Hope DH is feeling better too.. I gotta hit the gym in the a.m. Didn't exercise last weekend - missed tues cuz kids were here - hell the treadmill is going to kick my ass tomorrow. Plus next weekend will be going up north for Brooke's 6th bday - last yr totally missed it getting ready for cruise and since 26th is my furlough friday - guess I will make the trip..

Charlene - You go girl - you WILL get there !!!

Eva - I did enjoy the family - I miss them so much - and if you came into my office - it's a shrine to my family - my office if FULL OF PICTURES of all my grandkids and family.

Well like I said - drive by - pple are coming in and I can't get caught on lbt :0)

Cbl

TGIF

[ljv52 2]

Good morning everyone. Had a busy day yesterday and no time to get on to post.

Julie, sorry to hear you're back to having pain again. I do wish they would let you get the MRI and find out what is causing it and get you fixed up. Judy, again, sorry you are having pain in your arm, I hope it gets better soon. Community theater -- how fun - I always wished I had that kind of talent but at this point I think I'd have a tough time memorizing lines, etc. Good for you -- I think it's wonderful. My neice (in St. Petersburg) used to be in a lot of community theater -- she loved it but she had to give it up cause she was too busy with college.

I had a weird night. My DH snores and I use a sound machine to drown it out -- I usually can manage to get to sleep although some nights I just can't. I holler at him and he will turn over and that usually solves the problem but last night it was just awful and it was so loud. I had the sound machine turned up so loud but I could still hear him. And I was very tired - had been up at 5:00 yesterday morning and worked all day, had a dental appt. at lunch, so never had time to relax and stayed up till 11:20 watching the men's skating finals. Anyway, I guess I finally drifted off around 2, back up at 6:15 so got in 75 mins. of exercise this morning. He kept insisting he wasn't snoring cause his "mouth wasn't open". I said, well, I guess you were snoring through your nose!! LOL. I wanted to smother him (not really).

Eva, your concert sounded great, glad you enjoyed it.

Joyce, you'll make it until Monday - you're doing great!! I had to do two weeks of liquid diet before surgery -- if you are hungry be sure you're getting enough Protein? If you feel super hungry, try increasing your protein -- maybe have an extra Protein Drink -- that's what satisfies your hunger -- i never knew that before I had the band. I'll be thinking of you on Monday -- you'll do great. Just think of all the weight you're already losing!!

Cheri, so glad to hear your job is safe for next year - hope your DH is feeling better. Did he get a flu vaccine this year? We always get them - also got the H1N1 this year. Good going on your maintenance and getting your exercise in every day -- keep up the good work.

Laura, sorry to hear DH and Nelson aren't feeling well. I know your mom and dad are disappointed you aren't coming, but you made the right decision. You'll make it up there soon when everyone is healthier.

We had a couple days of sunshine and it's supposed to snow this afternoon - 2 to 4 inches - the roads and parking lots were finally ALMOST free of ice and snow and now it's going to snow again. I'm ready for spring. Hope it will happen soon.

When we were in Chicago for Thanksgiving 2007, we saw the Jersey Boys -- it was really good. One of our little local casinos is having a tribute to the Jersey Boys and we got an invitation to go to a free show and a free night - only problem is it's on Sunday night the 28th. It's about a 1-1/2 hour drive but we're going to go cause I don't have to be at work until 9 on Monday, so we'll just get up early and head out. Should be fun -- maybe get me out of my winter blues a little.

DGD coming to spend the night tonight -- looking forward to spending some time with her--she's quite the character -- she's been obsessed by one of her uncle's friends (who's 20 years old) named Jeremiah. She is constantly on her little princess cell phone talking to him -- she has a fabulous imagination -- she'll talk to him and laugh and carry on - kind of scary -- she acts like a teenager and she's only 3 -- DD thinks she must be immitating the way her babysitter's teenage daughter acts. You would swear she's really on the phone with someone. Kids are just amazing sometimes.

Apples, that accident was a terrible tragedy - how awful you stumbled upon that.

Charlene, I'm so glad Dr. Davis and his staff are coming up with some additional help for you. Would love to hear what they end up recommending. And way to go on the positive attitude!

Janet, hope the visit is going well.

Did any of you watch the men's skating finals last night -- so great -- so proud of our gold medalist, Evan - his trainer said he never worked with anyone who worked so hard -- what an inspiration that was to me - I just love the Olympics.

Well, gotta get back to work. Have a great Friday and weekend everyone! Linda

Edited February 19, 2010 by ljv52

[jbflorida 1]

What's with the pain a bunch of us are experiencing? I really think the cold weather makes it worse. Last night, after rehearsal and walking Bitsy--PAIN! I took a pain pill left over from my arm surgery--I'm not sure that the pain was lessened, but who cared? I was floating and feeling good! I can see how people can become addicts! (not to worry, my only addiction is food)

Joyce, we all know the thoughts that are going through your head, especially, "What the h--- am I doing?" You are taking back your power, your health. You are giving yourself and your loved ones a gift. And you DESERVE it! We deserve to feel happy and healthy and strong.

Julie--tragic experience at your friend's house. Some memories we wish we could erase.

Doing a Walmart run today--could my life be any more exciting??? Take care--be kind to yourself today.

[ljv52 2]

Lori, have fun at the shower and your trip to Vegas. My sister got her mother of the bride dress - it's a similar style to yours -- she got really lucky and got it for a super great price at JC Penny's bridal shop. Now, this is my baby sister who has always been tall (5'7") and thin and has never had to diet her entire life. She turned 50 last year and she was quite upset that she had to get a size 18 -- I was shocked -- she was always a 12 at the most. So for the very first time in my life I'll be wearing a much smaller dress than my sister at the wedding. It's so weird.

Janet, glad you had a good visit with your family - have a great weekend!

LauraK -- keep up the good work on the zumba!! I still have my DVD's but it's hard to learn those steps.

Linda

[ladykcusa 1]

Linda - Don't know how old you are, BUT the snoring drove my DD & I to separate bedrooms. Sadly, it was MY snoring and my beloved (now deceased) yorkie, Rambo.

Even tho we don't sleep together, still madly in love after 35 years.

It's an option.......

Joyce

[ladykcusa 1]

JB & Linda - thanks for the wonderful words of encouragement. You hit the nail on the head. What am I doing?????

Seriously, I've done lots of research and have the GIFT of all of your experiences and I know this is the correct decision for my health & my life.

Deep sigh......

Joyce in KC